Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and Testing of a DNA Macroarray To Assess Nitrogenase (nifH) Gene Diversity

ABSTRACT A DNA macroarray was developed and evaluated for its potential to distinguish variants of the dinitrogenase reductase (nifH) gene. Diverse nifH gene fragments amplified from a clone library were spotted onto nylon membranes. Amplified, biotinylated nifH fragments from individual clones or a natural picoplankton community were hybridized to the array and detected by chemiluminescence. A hybridization test with six individual targets mixed in equal proportions resulted in comparable relative signal intensities for the corresponding probes (standard deviation, 14%). When the targets were mixed in unequal concentrations, there was a predictable, but nonlinear, relationship between target concentration and relative signal intensity. Results implied a detection limit of roughly 13 pg of target ml−1, a half-saturation of signal at 0.26 ng ml−1, and a dynamic range of about 2 orders of magnitude. The threshold for cross-hybridization varied between 78 and 88% sequence identity. Hybridization patterns were reproducible with significant correlations between signal intensities of duplicate probes (r = 0.98, P < 0.0001, n = 88). A mixed nifH target amplified from a natural Chesapeake Bay water sample hybridized strongly to 6 of 88 total probes and weakly to 17 additional probes. The natural community results were well simulated (r = 0.941, P < 0.0001, n = 88) by hybridizing a defined mixture of six individual targets corresponding to the strongly hybridizing probes. Our results indicate that macroarray hybridization can be a highly reproducible, semiquantitative method for assessing the diversity of functional genes represented in mixed pools of PCR products amplified from the environment.
Information-theoretic approach for selection of spatial and temporal models of community organization

The literature on the ecology of marine assemblages includes frequent examples of data analysis with no well-defined alternative hypotheses for the definition of environmental variables (independent matrix for multivariate methods). Alternative models, whereby spatial or temporal patterns are investigated, should be explicitly assumed. We present a parsimonious procedure for model selection in multivariate data combined with canonical correspondence analysis to determine the measure of explained variance for each tested model, using Akaike's information criterion (AIC) for model selection. The AIC procedure is an effective tool for model selection and, in contrast to other conventional procedures that use only 1 implicit model and ignore other community patterns, it provides a framework for ranking hierarchical patterns that adds an alternative non-disjunctive per- spective to assemblage analysis. Hierarchical patterns are revealed as layers in a scale-dependent framework.
Linear Precoder Designs for Cognitive Radio Multiuser MIMO Downlink Systems

In this paper, we develop linear precoding methods for cognitive radio (CR) multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) broadcast systems where unlicensed secondary users (SUs) simultaneously use the same spectrum of the licensed primary user (PU). When the zero-forcing block diagonalization (ZF-BD) precoder is extended to the CR network, a noise enhancement problem occurs. Therefore, we propose a regularized BD precoder based on the minimum mean-square error (MMSE) criteria subject to zero interference constraint for the PU. As a result, the proposed MMSE-BD scheme improves the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio at each SU's receiver compared to the ZF-BD based method. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the ZF based technique by more than 5 dB at the sum-rate 10 bps/Hz for CR MU-MIMO downlink systems.
A MapReduce-based fuzzy associative classifier for big data

In this paper, we propose an efficient distributed fuzzy associative classification model based on the MapReduce paradigm. The learning algorithm first mines a set of fuzzy association classification rules by employing a distributed version of a fuzzy extension of the well-known FP-Growth algorithm. Then, it prunes this set by using three purposely adapted types of pruning. We implemented the distributed fuzzy associative classifier using the Hadoop framework. We show the scalability of our approach by carrying out a number of experiments on a real-world big dataset. In particular, we evaluate the achievable speedup on a small computer cluster, highlighting that the proposed approach allows handling big datasets even with modest hardware support.
Smells Like Safe Sex

This report discusses a study which aimed to test a hypothesis related to condom use - that ecological cues for the presence of pathogens would increase intentions to use condoms. It describes the method and the results of this experiment which included 99 undergraduate psychology students. It states that this study suggests that motivational systems influencing condom use may respond to cues for general pathogen threats and that sensory systems evolved to detect pathogen threats may influence intentions to use condoms in a different manner than do verbal communications of sexually transmitted disease threat.
Robust video stabilization based on motion intention for low-cost micro aerial vehicles

Currently, different hand-held devices as domestic cameras, smart-phones, tablets, or on-board cameras for robots are becoming popular for video capturing. A main concern with these gadgets is undesired movement between consecutive frames. Video stabilization is a technique with increasing impact for solving this problem. In this paper, a proposal is introduced for robust video stabilization, in particular for on-board cameras in micro aerial vehicles. It is based on a combination of the RANSAC (RANdom SAmple Consensus) algorithm and gray level differences as cost function for local motion parameter estimation, as well as a low-pass filter for global motion smoothing. Experimentation will illustrate about of the robustness proposed solution.
Postirradiation Vertigo in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Survivors

Objective: Vertigo rarely manifested as an initial symptom of nasopharyngeal carcinoma or an early symptom after irradiation; however, increasing numbers of long-term nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors experienced it. The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes of vertigo in irradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors. Setting: University hospital. Patients: From January 1992 to December 2001, a total of 113 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients (67 men and 46 women) with postirradiation vertigo consecutively visited our vertigo clinic. The mean interval from completion of irradiation to the occurrence of vertigo was 10 years. Each patient underwent otoscopic examination and a battery of audiovestibular function tests. Then, correlation between the vertigo and the radiation effect was explored. Results: Postirradiation vertigo was mainly attributable to peripheral labyrinthine disorder (69%), followed by central vestibular lesions (31%). The vertiginous and associated symptoms including severity, nausea/vomiting, oscillopsia, or imbalance in cases of peripheral labyrinthine disorder were milder than those in central vestibular lesion. Meanwhile, the former had less life impact and better response to therapy compared with the latter. The mean radiation dosage in both groups was 73 ± 6 Gy and 74 ± 5 Gy, respectively, without a significant difference. Of these 113 patients, 85 patients (75%) had radiation otitis media in one or both ears, and 28 patients disclosed bilateral intact eardrums. The prevalence of radiation otitis media in patients with postirradiated vertigo was 53% versus 73% for those with radiation dosage less than or more than 71 Gy, respectively, exhibiting a significant difference. However, the prevalence of radiation otitis media is unrelated to radiation interval. In comparison with absent caloric responses in radiation otitis media ears, 32% versus 57% in those of less than or more than 71 Gy, respectively, indicates a significant difference. Conclusions: Vertigo is a late complication in irradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors, which is mainly caused by the sequela of radiation otitis media. Because the latter is correlated with the radiation dosage, 70 Gy is recommended as the maximum dosage for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Eradicating radiation otitis media in nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors may subsequently prevent the postirradiation vertigo.
p53-Dependent p21 mRNA Elongation Is Impaired when DNA Replication Is Stalled

ABSTRACT We have previously reported that when DNA replication is blocked in some human cell lines, p53 is impaired in its ability to induce a subset of its key target genes, including p21WAF1/CIP1. Here, we investigated the reason for this impairment by comparing the effects of two agents, hydroxyurea (HU), which arrests cells in early S phase and impairs induction of p21, and daunorubicin, which causes a G2 block and leads to robust activation of p21 by p53. HU treatment was shown to inhibit p21 mRNA transcription rather than alter its mRNA stability. Nevertheless, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that HU impacts neither p53 binding nor acetylation of histones H3 and H4 within the p21 promoter. Furthermore, recruitment of the TFIID/TATA-binding protein complex and the large subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) are equivalent after HU and daunorubicin treatments. Relative to daunorubicin treatment, however, transcription elongation of the p21 gene is significantly impaired in cells treated with HU, as evidenced by reduced occupancy of RNA Pol II at regions downstream of the start site. Likewise, in the p21 downstream region after administration of HU, there is less of a specifically phosphorylated form of RNA Pol II (Pol II-C-terminal domain serine 2P) which occurs only when the polymerase is elongating RNA. We propose that while the DNA replication checkpoint is unlikely to regulate the assembly of a p21 promoter initiation complex, it signals to one or more factors involved in the process of transcriptional elongation.
Mis-allocation of Political Capital

This paper investigates how political incentives affect the allocation of public goods using data from Brazil's Federal Legislature, a setting in which federal politicians representing multi-member districts can issue budgetary amendments for public works in their respective districts. We examine these allocations in the context of a model that features three key aspects of this decision. First, politicians choose the allocation of funds to maximize the share of votes they receive in future elections and therefore their chances of staying in power. Second, while politicians are affected by political incentives, they may also have altruistic motives in deciding where to allocate these public works. Third, politicians take into account the fact that their allocation decisions are likely to influence the choices of the other incumbent politicians, and vice versa. Based on our model estimates, we find that relative to a social planner, political incentives distort a significant fraction of the expenditure on public goods. Simulations illustrate the tradeoff between altruistic motives and electoral returns and the extent to which alternative electoral rules can reduce political distortions. Finally, we use the model to evaluate policies aimed at changing the electoral system. We find that a score voting system, which scholars believe is a better form of voting, increases the distortions generated by political incentives.
Clinical isolates Aspergillus clavatusc 2151 Clinical isolate Aspergillus terreusc 2026 Unknown Rhizopus oryzaed 129 Clinical isolate Fusarium oxysporumd 126 Clinical isolate Penicillium aurantiogriseuma 140 Clinical isolate Penicillium chrysogenuma 210 Clinical isolate Candida albicansa 97 Clinical

AspergiUus fumigatus is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen causing an often fatal pneumonia, invasive aspergillosis (IA), in immunosuppressed patients. Oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify a 401-bp fragment spanning the 26S/intergenic spacer region of the rDNA complex ofA. fimigatus by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The primers were highly sensitive and specific: as little as 1 pg ofA.fumigatus genomic DNA could be detected, and the primers only amplified DNA from A. fumigatus and not any other fungal, bacterial, viral, or human DNA tested. Using the PCR, we were able to detect A. fumigatus DNA in lung homogenates from immunosuppressed mice experimentally infected with A. fumigatus but not from immunosuppressed uninfected controls. There was 93% correlation between the culture results and the PCR results. In a retrospective clinical study, the sensitivity of the PCR for the detection ofA.fumigatus in clinical samples was confirmed by positive amplification in three of three culture-positive respiratory samples from confirmed
Chapter 3 Histamine Metabolism

Histamine is formed by decarboxylation of the amino acid L-histidine, a process catalyzed by histidine decarboxylase (HDC) and can be inactivated either by methylation of the imidazole ring, catalyzed by histamine N-methyltransferase (HMT) or by oxidative deamination of the primary amino group, catalyzed by diamine oxidase (DAO). This chapter describes the enzymatic reactions and the properties of the enzymes involved, including their structures, their cellular localization, their genes, expression and regulation, and the determination of their enzymatic activities. It also addresses cellular histamine transport, storage and release. Further, it discusses alterations in histamine metabolism associated with human diseases and how this might affect histamine receptor signaling.
Information Dissemination Model Based on Clustering Analysis of Information Network Development

Our goal is to analyze the way information flows in the social network and to draw a conclusion for the relationship between the information spread and public opinion. First, by utilizing K-Means Algorithm with PCA (Principal Component Analysis), we build a comprehensive assessment system of information development. Second, based on the traditional SIR Model in epidemic field, we build a SIER dissemination model introducing the conception of Super-spreader in disease propagation. Then we analyze the changing trend of different nodes' density influenced by the Super-spreaders. According to the results of clustering, we set different values of parameters in the model respectively matched with each clustered group. In this way, our paper successfully reveals the information dissemination mechanism and showing the dynamic diffusion of information flow in the social network. Furthermore, we validate our model's reliability by comparing the results we predict with the realistic data and predict the situation of communication network successfully. After that we perform sensitivity analysis by studying important factors which impacts the public opinion and information spread change in social network. Finally, this paper proposes some advice for policymakers to control and guide the flow of information via adjusting important factors in the diffusion model.
The Role of the Iliolumbar Ligament in the Lumbosacral Junction

The biomechanical function of the iliolumbar ligament in the human lumbosacral junction was investigated by analyzing the three-dimensional movements of the whole lumbar and lumbo-sacral-ilium specimens. The experiment was repeated in the following three conditions: 1) intact iliolumbar ligament, 2) right iliolumbar ligament transected, and 3) bilateral iliolumbar ligaments transected. The representative values of the increased motions, compared with intact, after transection of the bilateral iliolumbar ligaments were 1. 7º (23%) in flexion, 1. 1º (20%) in extension, 0. 3º (18%) in axial rotation, and 1. 2º (29%) in lateral bending. The most restricted motion governed by the iliolumbar ligament in the lumbosacral junction was lateral bending. The bilateral iliolumbar ligament specimen could restrict flexion and extension of the lumbosacral junction, but the unilateral iliolumbar ligament preparation alone could not restrict these motions. The iliolumbar ligament also had the function of restricting the rotational movement of the lumbosacral junction.
Answering Key Questions for Service Science

A three-month consultation process following the Cambridge Service Science, Management, and En-gineering Symposium in July 2007 produced a white paper called “Succeeding through service inno-vation: A service perspective for education, research, business and government” (IfM and IBM, 2008). The white paper’s content served as an important inspiration for subsequent service science research. Among other ideas, it identified five “key questions” for service science related to architec-tures of service systems, building blocks, life cycles, optimization, and outcomes of service systems. This paper addresses the white paper’s challenge by providing a conceptual rationale and then an-swering each of the key questions. It starts by discussing the series of ideas that form a basis for an-swering the questions. Its final section looks at each question in turn and explains how the previously discussed ideas, taken in combination, answer each question in a way that is coherent and consistent with the other answers. In essence, this paper is an existence proof illustrating that there is at least one coherent and consistent set of answers for these key questions. Ideally, the existence of one set of answers will encourage the creation of answers from other viewpoints, ultimately supporting future developments in service science.
Prevention and Treatment of Glucocorticoid‐Induced Osteoporosis: A Comparison of Calcitriol, Vitamin D Plus Calcium, and Alendronate Plus Calcium

High‐dose corticosteroids, used for many medical conditions, are associated with rapid bone loss from sites such as the vertebrae, and compression fractures can be observed within months. Recent trials suggest treatment with bisphosphonates or active vitamin D analogs can reduce bone loss and the risk of fracture associated with glucocorticoids, but few studies have directly compared such agents. We conducted a randomized, multicenter, open‐label trial to compare the efficacy of alendronate, calcitriol, and simple vitamin D in prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid‐induced bone loss. A total of 195 subjects (134 females and 61 males) commencing or already taking glucocorticoids were randomized to one of three groups: calcitriol, 0.5 to 0.75 μg/day; simple vitamin D (ergocalciferol, 30,000 IU weekly) plus calcium carbonate (600 mg daily); or alendronate, 10 mg/day plus calcium carbonate (600 mg daily). Over 2 years, mean lumbar bone mineral density change was +5.9% with alendronate, −0.5% with ergocalciferol, and −0.7% with calcitriol (p < 0.001). At the femoral neck, there was no significant difference in bone mineral density change between the treatments over 2 years: alendronate (+0.9%), ergocalciferol (−3.2%), and calcitriol (−2.2%). Lumbar bone loss varied according to whether patients were starting or receiving chronic glucocorticoids, and there was a significant treatment × prior glucocorticoid use interaction effect. Six of 66 calcitriol subjects, 1 of 61 ergocalciferol subjects, and 0 of 64 alendronate subjects sustained new vertebral fractures. These data do not suggest any difference between simple vitamin D and calcitriol but do show that alendronate was superior to either treatment for glucocorticoid induced bone loss.
Cartilage Tissue Engineering Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells and 3D Chitosan Scaffolds – In vitro and in vivo Assays

Cartilage tissue has only one cell type, the chondrocyte, wich is immerse in extracellular matrix composed mainly by collagen type II. Because of such properties, cartilage tissue doens’t heal spontaneously after a lesion, which with time becomes progressive and chronic. Cartilage lesions may be caused by automobile and sport accidents, as well as by normal wear due to age, and usually generate severe pain and difficulty of mobility in patients. Therefore, cartilage disease is a common type of lesion to which everyone is susceptible and represents a very important public health problem in the world (Willians et al, 2006). Initial therapies to treat cartilage lesions included replacement surgery with artificial or natural organs and tissue grafts. Artificial and natural organ transplants and tissue grafts, on the other hand, are able to fully replace organs or tissues, but require continuous and permanent immune therapy to reduce immunological response to graft and to increase the longevity of transplanted tissue. Therefore, although major progresses were done in the field of cartilage tissue regenerative medicine during the years, current therapies still present limitations. Moreover, no adequate cartilage substitute has been developed. Thus, most of the severe injuries related to cartilage are still unrecoverable or not adequately treated. Therefore, these methods are helpful but need modification to develop better novel or alternative therapies (Ikada et al, 2006 and Tabata et al, 2009). In such context emerges tissue engineering, which has been defined by Langer and Vacanti as: ‘‘an interdisciplinary field of research that applies the principles of engineering and the life sciences towards the development of biological substitutes that restore, maintain, or improve tissue function” (Salgado et al, 2004). Tissue Engineering or Bioengineering is based on three elements: (i) cells; (ii) scaffolds and (iii) signalling molecules. These elements integrate themselves and promote the new tissue development (Langer and Vacanti, 1993; Ikada et al, 2006 and Chiang et al, 2009). In order to mimic tissue structure, tissue engineering also requires 3 dimensional cell cultures, which, in contrast to traditional bidimensional cell culture, has only been developed recently. Nowadays, it is beyond dispute that this cell culture strategy presents many advantages,
3D Acoustic imagery generation by interferometric analysis of long baseline using Interferometric Real Aperture Sonar.

We are developing a technique for the systematical exploration of submarine hydrothermal ore deposits. In the Izu-Ogasawara Arc area these deposits are usually characterized by the existence of tower-like vents 2~20m high by 2~5m wide. We are using a set of Interferometric Real Aperture Sonars (InRAS) to generate 3D acoustic images of the areas surrounding the vents. We not only improved the resolution thanks to a long interferometric baseline, but we also efficietnly unwrapped the phase in this zone of large elevation differences by applying a two-stage approach (Branch Cut and SSPU methods). These improvements allow us to map the seafloor bathymetry around the submarine hydrothermal deposits. Since April 2014 we are conducting in-situ observations of both known and potential zones of hydrothermal deposits. Moreover, in November 2015 we will gather validation data in an experimental pool.