Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF): a coordinate repressor of multiple neuron-specific genes

The neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF) binds a DNA sequence element, called the neuron-restrictive silencer element (NRSE), that represses neuronal gene transcription in nonneuronal cells. Consensus NRSEs have been identified in 18 neuron-specific genes. Complementary DNA clones encoding a functional fragment of NRSF were isolated and found to encode a novel protein containing eight noncanonical zinc fingers. Expression of NRSF mRNA was detected in most nonneuronal tissues at several developmental stages. In the nervous system, NRSF mRNA was detected in undifferentiated neuronal progenitors, but not in differentiated neurons. NRSF represents the first example of a vertebrate silencer protein that potentially regulates a large battery of cell type-specific genes, and therefore may function as a master negative regulator of neurogenesis.
Effect of trade openness on regional economic growth in China: revisiting the discussion

ABSTRACT Increasing openness contributes to economic growth in developing countries, but the endogeneity problem impedes drawing this conclusion. This paper uses the constructed trade share to circumvent the effects of endogeneity according to a method proposed by Frankel and Romer. The results demonstrate that increasing openness has a positive impact on provinces’ GDP and GDP per capita. In addition, an increase in lagged openness is beneficial for present economic growth, and even openness gained many years ago, which is measured by the number of treaty ports, makes a difference in present economic growth.
Novel Islet, Duct, and Acinar Cell Markers Defined by Monoclonal Autoantibodies from Prediabetic BB Rats

Novel islet cell, duct cell, and acinar cell markers have been identified by monoclonal autoantibodies (Maab) derived from prediabetic BB rats. Spleen cells from two rats that both developed diabetes after splenectomy were fused with mouse myeloma cells. A cellular immunoradiometric assay for differential reactivity toward the surface of two closely related, insulin- and noninsulin-producing rat islet tumor cell lines was used to select and clone several IgM-producing hybridomas. The supernatants were finally characterized by two-color immunofluorescence with islet hormone antisera on frozen sections of human, monkey, and rat pancreas. Maab EB52 stained PP cells, but also few A cells on rat pancreas. Maab CA812 identified a subpopulation of islet D cellson rat, human, and monkey pancreas. Although the CA81 Zreactive antigen and somatostatin were coexpressed in most D cells in adult rat pancreas, only a few islet D cells were stained in the newborn pancreas. The CA812-reactiveantigen was not detected in somatostatin-producing cells in the duct epithelium. Maab H37 and IF5 selectively stained acinar cells in rat, human, and monkey pancreas, whereas Maab DA39 identified the rat ductal epithelium including the scattered endocrine cells of the ducts. In summary, B lymphocytes producing autoantibodies to pancreatic endocrine, exocrine, and ductal markers are present in prediabetic BB rats and can be detected by use of transformed pluripotent islet cells as target. Such B lymphocytes can be immortalizedto produce monoclonal antibodies to study their role in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus pathogenesis and to clarify the development of the pancreas.
The quantification of game-induced muscle fatigue in amputee soccer players.

BACKGROUND This study quantified the degree of game-induced muscular fatigue in amputee soccer players. METHODS Thirty-three male amputee soccer players performed muscular tests (Push Up Test [PUT], Countermovement Jump Test [CMJ] and medicine-ball throw [MBT]) before and after a competitive match. Five players served as a control group. The rating of perceived exertion was recorded after each battery. RESULTS Control group demonstrated no differences between the two testing batteries (P>0.05, effect size [ES]: 0.1-0.4). However, match group illustrated markedly lower performances for PUT (-17%, P<0.01, ES: 0.9) with less pronounced declines in MBT (-8%, P<0.01, ES: 0.7) and CMJ (-5%, P<0.01, ES: 0.3) compared to pre-match values. The rating of perceived exertion were higher after the match compared to baseline values (+60%, P<0.01, ES: 2.4). CONCLUSIONS The data demonstrate that the fatigue experienced after amputee soccer matches causes impairments in muscular performance and this could be different to able-bodied players.
Mining regular crime patterns in spatio-temporal databases

Crime pattern theory emphasize how crime appear from Spatio-temporal method. To get knowledge on crimes, it has to be studied in terms of space and time. Crime patterns and crime related activities research those spatio (location) distribution of crimes, omitting the temporal (time) dimensions. Exactly separation of crimes by space and time, example hour of a specific day, day of a specific week, month of a specific year is suitable to theory proposed. Latest data enables spatio-temporal separation of data increasingly achievable; larger data files allow separation of larger data into time and space. Thus to identify the regularity of crimes with respect to time and space, we proposed a new algorithm called RCPSTD algorithm to mine (regularly crime patterns in spatio-temporal database) using a vertical data format which requires database scan of once. A crime pattern is said to be regular, whenever the occurrence behavior of a crime pattern is less than or equal to user given regularity threshold. Experimental results of RCPSTD algorithm is efficient in both memory utilization and execution time.
Generator fault detection technique using detailed coefficients ratio by daubechies wavelet transform

An AC (alternating current) generator is one of the important components in producing a electric power and so it requires highly reliable protection relays to minimize the possiblity of demage occurring under fault conditions. Conventionally, a RDR (ratio differential relaying) based on DFT (discrete Fourier transform) has been used for protecting the stator winding of a generator. However, when DFTs based on Fourier analysis are used, it has been pointed out that defects can occur during the process of transforming a time domain signal into a frequency domain one which can lead to loss of time domain information. This paper proposes the adoption of a protection algorithm for the stator by applying a WT (wavelet transform) to overcome the defects in the DFT process. Moreover, a new ratio equation is proposed for easy utilization of the detailed coefficients by DWT (Daubechies wavelet transform) through the course of MLD (multi-level decomposition) using MATLAB. For the case studies reported in the paper, a model system was established for the simulations utilizing the ATP (alternative transient program), and this verified the effectiveness of the proposed technique through various off-line tests carried out on the collected data. The propose method is shown to be able to rapidly identify internal faults and did not operate a miss-operation for all the external faults tested.
Overexpression of carbonic anhydrase XII in tissues from resectable non‐small cell lung cancers is a biomarker of good prognosis

The pattern of protein expression in tumors is under the influence of nutrient stress, hypoxia and low pH, which determines the survival of neoplastic cells and the development of tumors. Carbonic anhydrase XII (CAXII) is a transmembrane enzyme that catalyzes the reversible hydration of cell‐generated carbon dioxide into protons and bicarbonate. Hypoxic conditions activate its transcription and translation and enhanced expression is often present in several types of tumors. The aim of our study was to assess the prognostic significance of CAXII tumor tissues expression in patients with NSCLC. Five hundred fifty‐five tumors were immunostained for CAXII on tissue microarrays (TMA) and the results were correlated with clinicopathological parameters and outcome of patients. CAXII overexpression was present in 105/555 (19%) cases and was associated with tumors of lower grade (p = 0.015) and histological type (p < 0.001), being significantly higher in squamous cell carcinoma. High CAXII expression correlated with better overall and disease‐specific survival of patients with resectable NSCLC in univariate (p < 0.001) and multivariate survival analyses (p < 0.001). In conclusion, this is the first study demonstrating that a high CAXII tumor tissue expression evaluated on TMAs is related to a better outcome in a large series of patients with resectable NSCLC.
Impact of the Guanidinium Group on Hybridization and Cellular Uptake of Cationic Oligonucleotides

The grafting of cationic groups to synthetic oligonucleotides (ONs) in order to reduce the charge repulsion between the negatively charged strands of a duplex or triplex, and consequently to increase a complex's stability, has been extensively studied. Guanidinium groups, which are highly basic and positively charged over a wide pH range, could be an efficient ON modification to enhance their affinity for nucleic acid targets and to improve cellular uptake. A straightforward post‐synthesis method to convert amino functions attached to ONs (on sugar, nucleobase or backbone) into guanidinium tethers has been perfected. In comparison to amino groups, such cationic groups anchored to α‐oligonucleotide phosphoramidate backbones play important roles in duplex stability, particularly with RNA targets. This high affinity could be explained by dual recognition resulting from Watson–Crick or Hoogsteen base pairing combined with cationic/anionic backbone recognition between strands involving H‐bond formation and salt bridging. Molecular‐dynamics simulations corroborate interactions between the cationic backbones of the α‐ONs and the anionic backbones of the nucleic acid targets. Moreover, ONs with guanidinium modification increased cellular uptake relative to negatively charged ONs. The cellular localization of these new cationic phosphoramidate ONs is mainly cytoplasmic. The uptake of these ON analogues might occur through endocytosis.
Effect of traffic stress on cool-season turfgrass under a Mediterranean climate

Cool-season turfgrass for sporting use is an agronomic cultivation whose green surface is used for professional activities. On ecological grounds, turfgrass in towns is a system that can reduce atmospheric pollution, e.g. by CO2 sequestration. Here, I studied the impact of traffic on turf quality traits of turfgrass. The experiment, established in Southern Italy in the years 1999 to 2004, evaluated the impact of 2 levels of traffic stress on 3 types of turfgrass binary blends made by cultivars of tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and bermudagrass species. Grasses were grown on 4 different substrates established by a mix of soil sand at 2 fertilization levels of 100 and 200 N units kg h−1 yr−1. I evaluated the effect of the impact on three turfgrass qualitative traits, visually assessed using rating scores from 1 to 9. The lowest score values of turf quality, color and cover traits were, respectively, 5.6, 5.7 and 5.8 recorded for blend Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass under United States Golf Association sandy soil substrate, using 200 N fertilizer units and a high level of traffic stress. The highest score was 7.1 for turf quality and color and 8.0 for cover traits assessed for autochthonous soil substrate under 200 N fertilizer units and the second level of traffic stress. Furthermore, the 200 N units increased all the qualitative characteristics of turf lawn. The turfgrass growing on 65–70% sand substrate with 100 N units fertilizer and a high level of traffic stress was an ecological green structure able to sustain the physiological process for reducing pollution in the atmosphere.
Emergence of PER and VEB extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in Acinetobacter baumannii in Belgium.

OBJECTIVES Strains of Acinetobacter baumannii producing the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) PER-1 are widespread in Turkey and have also been reported from Korea and France. In contrast, A. baumannii producing the ESBL VEB-1 have only been reported from France, where one strain was responsible for a nationwide outbreak in 2003-2004. Here we describe the emergence of strains of A. baumannii producing VEB-1 and PER- 1 in Belgium. METHODS Belgian hospitals were alerted in December 2003 to the emergence in France of VEB-1-producing A. baumannii susceptible only to meropenem and colistin. Isolates with a compatible susceptibility profile were sent to a single central laboratory for VEB-1 confirmation, molecular characterization and typing. RESULTS From December 2003 to March 2005, three hospitals located close to the French border and one in the Brussels area reported isolation of eight A. baumannii isolates compatible with the French epidemic clone. Using PCR, six were identified as VEB-1-positive and two as PER-1-positive. All the VEB-1-positive isolates were clonally related by PFGE and by integron analysis to the French epidemic strain. The PER-1-positive strains were indistinguishable by PFGE but not related to the known French isolate or to several Turkish isolates. Both genes were chromosomally encoded. CONCLUSIONS This work illustrates the inter-country spread of VEB-1-producing A. baumannii isolates as well as the emergence of PER-1-producing A. baumannii strains in Belgium.
Changes in vegetation phenology are not reflected in atmospheric CO2 and 13C/12C seasonality

Northern terrestrial ecosystems have shown global warming‐induced advances in start, delays in end, and thus increased lengths of growing season and gross photosynthesis in recent decades. The tradeoffs between seasonal dynamics of two opposing fluxes, CO2 uptake through photosynthesis and release through respiration, determine the influence of the terrestrial ecosystem on the atmospheric CO2 and 13C/12C seasonality. Here, we use four CO2 observation stations in the Northern Hemisphere, namely Alert, La Jolla, Point Barrow, and Mauna Loa Observatory, to determine how changes in vegetation productivity and phenology, respiration, and air temperature affect both the atmospheric CO2 and 13C/12C seasonality. Since the 1960s, the only significant long‐term trend of CO2 and 13C/12C seasonality was observed at the northern most station, Alert, where the spring CO2 drawdown dates advanced by 0.65 ± 0.55 days yr−1, contributing to a nonsignificant increase in length of the CO2 uptake period (0.74 ± 0.67 days yr−1). For Point Barrow station, vegetation phenology changes in well‐watered ecosystems such as the Canadian and western Siberian wetlands contributed the most to 13C/12C seasonality while the CO2 seasonality was primarily linked to nontree vegetation. Our results indicate significant increase in the Northern Hemisphere soil respiration. This means, increased respiration of 13C depleted plant materials cancels out the 12C gain from enhanced vegetation activities during the start and end of growing season. These findings suggest therefore that parallel warming‐induced increases both in photosynthesis and respiration contribute to the long‐term stability of CO2 and 13C/12C seasonality under changing climate and vegetation activity. The summer photosynthesis and the soil respiration in the dormant seasons have become more vigorous which lead to increased peak‐to‐through CO2 amplitude. As the relative magnitude of the increased photosynthesis in summer months is more than the increased respiration in dormant months, we have the increased overall carbon uptake rates in the northern ecosystems.
Intranasal Immunization with Gal-Inhibitable Lectin plus an Adjuvant of CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides Protects against Entamoeba histolytica Challenge

ABSTRACT The development of an effective amebiasis vaccine could improve child health in the developing world, reducing cases of amebic colitis and liver abscess. An ideal vaccine would be comprised of a well-characterized parasite antigen and an adjuvant, which would have high potency while driving the immune response in a Th1 direction. This study describes a mucosal vaccine composed of the Entamoeba histolytica galactose/N-acetyl-d-galactosamine-inhibitable lectin (Gal-lectin) and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN). The Gal-lectin is a protein involved in parasite virulence and adherence and is known to activate immune cells, while CpG-ODN are known to be potent inducers of type 1-like immune responses. We demonstrated that intranasal administration of the vaccine resulted in strong Gal-lectin-specific Th1 responses and humoral responses. Vaccination induced the production of Gal-lectin-specific T cells and the production of the proinflammatory cytokine gamma interferon. Vaccinated animals had detectable serum anti-Gal-lectin immunoglobulin G (IgG) and stool anti-Gal-lectin IgA capable of blocking parasite adherence to target cells in vitro. One week after immunization, gerbils were challenged intrahepatically with live trophozoites. Vaccinated gerbils had no detectable abscesses after day 5, whereas control gerbils developed larger abscesses. These results show that mucosal vaccination with Gal-lectin and CpG-ODN can induce both systemic and humoral immune responses.
The Limits and the Social Legacy of Guardianship in Australia

Guardianship laws either for intellectually disadvantaged people alone, or for anyone with diminished functional capacity (such as victims of brain trauma), are now popular in Australia (other than in Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory)l and New Zealand.2 These laws are based on North American experience, particularly that of the Dependent Adults Act 1976 (Alberta). 3 The common thread is that it permits a guardian to be appointed to manage the property or the personal affairs of the disadvantaged person, or to make one or more of the multitude of decisions lying within these two broad areas of human living. Contemporary legislation is notable for three things. First, partial orders are permitted (in place of only plenary orders4). Indeed they are positively encouraged where any intervention at all is called for (the normalisation principle). Secondly, personal guardianships have been revived (having existed all along under cumbersome equity jurisdictions of or associated with superior courts5). Thirdly, administrative boards, with multi-disciplinary
The use of assemblage models to describe trace element partitioning, speciation, and fate: A review

The fate of trace elements in soils, sediments, and surface waters is largely determined by their binding to reactive components, of which organic matter, metal oxides, and clays are considered most important. Assemblage models, combining separate mechanistic complexation models for each of the reactive components, can be used to predict the solid‐solution partitioning and speciation of trace elements in natural environments. In the present review, the authors provide a short overview of advanced ion‐binding models for organic matter and oxides and of their application to artificial and natural assemblages. Modeling of artificial assemblages of mineral components and organic matter indicates that the interactions between organic and mineral components are important for trace element binding, particularly for oxyanions. The modeling of solid‐solution partitioning in natural systems is generally adequate for metal cations but less so for oxyanions, probably because of the neglect of organic matter–oxide interactions in most assemblage models. The characterization of natural assemblages in terms of their components (active organic matter, reactive oxide surface) is key to successful model applications. Improved methods for characterization of reactive components in situ will enhance the applicability of assemblage models. Collection of compositional data for soil and water archetypes, or the development of relationships to estimate compositions from geospatially available data, will further facilitate assemblage model use for predictive purposes. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2181–2196. © 2014 SETAC
Mapping the Loss of Ecosystem Services in a Region Under Intensive Land Use Along the Southern Coast of South Africa

Intensive land use activities worldwide have caused considerable loss to many ecosystem services. The dynamics of these threats must be quickly investigated to ensure timely update of management strategies and policies. Compared with complex models, mapping approaches that use scoring matrices to link land use/land cover and landscape properties with ecosystem services are relatively efficient and easier to apply. In this study, scoring matrices are developed and spatially explicit assessments of five ecosystem services, such as erosion control, water flow regulation, water quality maintenance, soil quality maintenance, and biodiversity maintenance, are conducted for a region under intense land use along the southern coast of South Africa. The complex interaction of land use/land cover and ecosystem services within a particular landscape is further elucidated by performing a spatial overview of the high-risk areas that contribute to the loss of ecosystem services. Results indicate that both agricultural activities and urban development contribute to the loss of ecosystem services. This study reveals that with sufficient knowledge from previous literature and inputs from experts, the use of scoring matrices can be adapted to different regional characteristics. This approach can be improved by adding additional landscape properties and/or adapting the matrix values as new data become available.
A High-Resolution ( ${< 10}~{\rm ps}$ RMS) 48-Channel Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) Implemented in a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)

A high-resolution 48-Channel Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) implemented in a general purpose Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is presented. Dedicated carry chains of the FPGA are utilized for time interpolation purposes inside a clock cycle. A counter running at the system clock frequency provides a global time stamp. These two values, along with the channel number, are stored for readout. An extra effort was made to improve the resolution beyond the intrinsic cell delay of the carry chain as well as to achieve the same resolution on all 48 channels. Due to large bin width variations a bin-by-bin calibration scheme was used. Time interval (TI) measurements between two channels were made to determine the RMS and the time resolution of a single channel. At least 6 ps single channel resolution was achieved for all channels. Additional measurements were performed to characterize the influence of the temperature and voltage variations on the RMS value and the mean as well as the sensitivity of the TDC to crosstalk. The results of these measurements are also presented in this paper.