Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NMR Spectroscopic Study of a DNA Duplex with Mercury-Mediated T-T Base Pairs

Recently, we reported that T-T mismatches can specifically recognize Hg II (T-Hg II -T pair formation). In order to understand the properties of the T-Hg II -T pair, we recorded NMR spectra for a DNA duplex, d(CGCG TT GTCC) • d(GGAC TT CGCG), with two successive T-T mismatches (Hg II -binding sites). We assigned 1 H resonances for mercury-free and di-mercurated duplexes, and performed titration experiments with Hg II by using 1D 1 H NMR spectra. Because of the above mentioned assignments, we could confirm the existence of mono-mercurated species, because individual components gave independent NMR signals in the titration spectra.
Patterns of Active Life Among Older Women: Differences Within and Between Groups

SUMMARY This study examines the distribution of total, unimpaired, and impaired life for several groups of older women defined by race, education, and marital history. Using data from the 1984–1990 Longitudinal Study of Aging, we model transitions among functional statuses using discrete-time Markov chains, and use microsimulation to produce summary indices of active life. Remaining years of life and the proportion of remaining years with disability vary substantially, both within each group of women studied and between pairs of groups. Of all groups studied, never-married, more-educated white women live the longest, healthiest lives. Ever-married nonwhite women with low education have the shortest life expectancy, and experience the most disability. Our findings show that life expectancy is an incomplete indicator of the time women, in particular sub-groups, can expect to live with and without impairment. These findings highlight the heterogeneity of disability processes and life expectancy for older women.
Corporate failure prediction: a study of public listed companies in Malaysia

Purpose - The objective of this paper is to develop a model that can predict financial distress amongst public listed companies in Malaysia using the logistic regression analysis. Design/methodology/approach - The logistic regression analysis used in this paper is geared towards developing a model that can predict financial distress amongst public listed companies in Malaysia. Findings - The results prove that five financial ratios have been found to be significant and useful for corporate failure prediction in Malaysia. The overall predictive accuracy is 91.5 percent and this demonstrates that the logistic regression analysis used is a reliable technique for financial distress prediction. In addition, the predictive accuracy of the model in this paper is higher than that of previous studies, which utilised discriminant analysis rather than the method adopted in this research. Originality/value - The economic crisis mostly began to affect Malaysia's economic standing in July 1997 causing many companies to fall into financial distress, as they were unable to cope with the unexpected downturn. A financial distress prediction model is therefore required to act as a predictor of Malaysian public listed companies' well-being prior to a financial crisis and to gauge the warning signals of the onset of a downturn in order to strategize their survival techniques during this phase. This study focuses on public listed companies in Malaysia, thus the model adopted is tailored to suit the given context.
A new frequency weighted model reduction technique using balanced singular perturbation approximation

In this paper a new frequency weighted model reduction algorithm is proposed which is based on a combination of Wang et al's technique [14] and balanced singular perturbation approximation. The proposed algorithm results stable reduced order models with both single sided and double-sided weightings. A numerical example is considered to validate the proposed algorithm and the comparison with other well known techniques shows the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Modélisation d'objets 3D par fusion silhouettes-stéréo à partir de séquences d'images en rotation non calibrées. (Stereo and silhouette fusion for 3D object modeling from uncalibrated images under circular motion)

Nous presentons une nouvelle approche pour la modelisation d'objets 3D de haute qualite a partir de sequences d'images en rotation partiellement calibrees. L'algorithme est capable: de calibrer la camera (la pose et la longueur focale), de reconstruire la geometrie 3D et de creer une carte de texture. Par rapport a d'autres methodes plus classiques, le calibrage est realise a partir d'un ensemble de silhouettes comme seule source d'information. Nous developpons le concept de coherence d'un ensemble de silhouettes genere par un objet 3D. Nous discutons d'abord la notion de coherence de silhouettes et definissons un critere pratique pour l'estimer. Ce critere depend a la fois des silhouettes et des parametres des cameras qui les ont generees. Ces parametres peuvent etre estimes pour le probleme de modelisation 3D en maximisant la coherence globale des silhouettes. La methode de reconstruction 3D est fondee sur l'utilisation d'un modele deformable classique, qui definit le cadre dans lequel nous pouvons fusionner l'information de la texture et des silhouettes pour reconstruire la geometrie 3D. Cette fusion est accomplie en definissant deux forces basees sur les images: une force definie par la texture et une autre definie par les silhouettes. La force de texture est calculee en deux etapes: une approche correlation multi-stereo par decision majoritaire, et une etape de diffusion du vecteur gradient (GVF). En raison de la haute resolution de l'approche par decision majoritaire, une version multi-resolution du GVF a ete developpee. En ce qui concerne la force des silhouettes, une nouvelle formulation de la contrainte des silhouettes est derivee. Elle fournit une maniere robuste d'integrer les silhouettes dans l'evolution du modele deformable. A la fin de l'evolution, cette force fixe les contours generateurs du modele 3D. Finalement, une carte de texture est calculee a partir des images originales et du modele 3D reconstruit.
Vertebral compression fracture after spine stereotactic body radiotherapy: a multi-institutional analysis with a focus on radiation dose and the spinal instability neoplastic score.

PURPOSE Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is increasingly recognized as an adverse event after spine stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). We report a multi-institutional study aimed at clarifying the risk and predictive factors associated with VCF. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 252 patients with 410 spinal segments treated with SBRT were included. The primary outcome was the development of VCF (a new VCF or progression of a baseline VCF). In addition to various patient-, treatment-, and tumor-specific factors, the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Scoring (SINS) system was applied to determine predictive value. RESULTS The median follow-up was 11.5 months (range, 0.03 to 113 months). The median and mean overall survival rates were 16 and 26 months, respectively. We observed 57 fractures (57 of 410, 14%), with 47% (27 of 57) new fractures and 53% (30 of 57) fracture progression. The median time to VCF was 2.46 months (range, 0.03 to 43.01 months), and 65% occurred within the first 4 months. The 1- and 2-year cumulative incidences of fracture were 12.35% and 13.49%, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified dose per fraction (greatest risk for ≥ 24 Gy v 20 to 23 Gy v ≤ 19 Gy), in addition to three of the six original SINS criteria: baseline VCF, lytic tumor, and spinal deformity, as significant predictors of VCF. CONCLUSION Caution must be observed when treating with ≥ 20 Gy/fraction, in particular, for patients with lytic tumor, spinal misalignment, and a baseline VCF. Frequent short-term follow-up is required, as nearly two thirds of all VCF occurred within the first 4 months. We also conclude that SINS may have utility in predicting patients at high risk of SBRT-induced VCF.
A Prospective Analysis of the Relationship Between Walking and Mood in Sedentary Ethnic Minority Women

ABSTRACT Walking for exercise is becoming widely recognized for bestowing health benefits. This study examined the association of walking for exercise and mood in sedentary, ethnic minority women over a five-month period. Ethnic minority women (N = 102) participated in a randomized, controlled trial of a 7-week behaviorally based telephone and mail intervention that promoted the adoption of walking for exercise compared to a non-behavioral minimal intervention. At 2-month post-test and 5-month follow-up, participants reported significant decreases in depressive mood and increases in vigor. Increase in walking over the course of the study was associated with change in vigor. Limited evidence was found to support a relationship between walking for exercise and mood improvement in ethnic-minority women.
Analysis of the creA gene, a regulator of carbon catabolite repression in Aspergillus nidulans

The complete nucleotide sequence derived from a genomic clone and two cDNA clones of the creA gene of Aspergillus nidulans is presented. The gene contains no introns. The derived polypeptide of 415 amino acids contains two zinc fingers of the C2H2 class, frequent S(T)PXX motifs, and an alanine-rich region indicative of a DNA-binding repressor protein. The amino acid sequence of the zinc finger region has 84% similarity to the zinc finger region of Mig1, a protein involved in carbon catabolite repression in yeast cells, and it is related both to the mammalian Egr1 and Egr2 proteins and to the Wilms' tumor protein. A deletion removing the creA gene was obtained, by using in vitro techniques, in both a heterokaryon and a diploid strain but was unobtainable in a pure haploid condition. Evidence is presented suggesting that the phenotype of such a deletion, when not complemented by another creA allele, is leaky lethality allowing limited germination of the spore but not colony formation. This phenotype is far more extreme than that of any of the in vivo-generated mutations, and thus either the gene product may have an activator activity as well as a repressor function or some residual repressor function may be required for full viability.
An assessment of differences in the ruminal degradability and intestinal digestibility of crude protein in brewer’s grains and maize draff

The submitted thesis aims to assess the differences between the ruminal degradability and intestinal digestibility of crude protein contained in brewer's grains (BG) and maize draff (AMG). The effectiveness of ruminal degradability was tested using the "in sacco" method on 3 dry Holstain cows fitted with rumen cannulas. The dynamics of ruminal degradability of crude protein (CP) was detected after 0, 4, 8, 16, and 24 hours of samples incubation in the rumen. The intestinal digestibility of crude protein undegradable in the rumen was determined using the "mobile bag" method on 3 dry Holstain cows fitted with duodenal cannulas. The crude protein degradability of BG was detected in the above-mentioned hours (%): 4.06; 18.16; 32.40; 38.56, and 50.70; crude protein degradability of AMG: 42.04; 63.56; 84.47; 85.16, and 87.19. The effectiveness of rumen degradability of BG crude protein at the rate of passage of rumen content 6 % per hour was calculated at 35.33 % and that of AMG, at 76.29 %. Intestinal digestibility of BG crude protein and dry matter at the rate of passage of intestinal content 6 % per hour was calculated at 79.41 % and 22.84 %, respectively, and that of AMG, at 57.01 % and 11.33 %, respectively. The differences between the indicators of both feedstuffs were significant (P < 0.05). The results show that BG are mostly a source of crude protein with higher intestinal digestibility than AMG.
A pattern for performance assessment by balanced scorecard method: a case study

In today's era, amazing developments in knowledge management have necessitated the presence of assessment discipline in an inevitable manner. Measuring and assessing the operations are important due to their relationship with decisions concerning several various human characteristics. In this paper, by using the balanced scorecard (BSC), we identify significance of organisational improvement activities from different aspects such as financial, growth and learning, customers and internal processes. The BSC has a conceptual framework that transforms organisational strategic goals to measurable indices and creates a balanced distribution among the vital domains of an organisation. We first adjust and internalise the BSC model in order to make it compatible for an Iranian large company, Mazandaran Wood and Paper Industries (MWPI), and then identify the suitable indices to do assessment of the company's operations. The indices are specified by the aid of some questionnaires, which were distributed among the mid-level/senior managers, and are interpreted by using statistical methods. Finally, after identifying and introducing the assessment of the pattern for MWPI operations, some useful suggestions are presented to improve the pattern and to achieve the company's successive goals.
LipidFrag: Improving reliability of in silico fragmentation of lipids and application to the Caenorhabditis elegans lipidome

Lipid identification is a major bottleneck in high-throughput lipidomics studies. However, tools for the analysis of lipid tandem MS spectra are rather limited. While the comparison against spectra in reference libraries is one of the preferred methods, these libraries are far from being complete. In order to improve identification rates, the in silico fragmentation tool MetFrag was combined with Lipid Maps and lipid-class specific classifiers which calculate probabilities for lipid class assignments. The resulting LipidFrag workflow was trained and evaluated on different commercially available lipid standard materials, measured with data dependent UPLC-Q-ToF-MS/MS acquisition. The automatic analysis was compared against manual MS/MS spectra interpretation. With the lipid class specific models, identification of the true positives was improved especially for cases where candidate lipids from different lipid classes had similar MetFrag scores by removing up to 56% of false positive results. This LipidFrag approach was then applied to MS/MS spectra of lipid extracts of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Fragments explained by LipidFrag match known fragmentation pathways, e.g., neutral losses of lipid headgroups and fatty acid side chain fragments. Based on prediction models trained on standard lipid materials, high probabilities for correct annotations were achieved, which makes LipidFrag a good choice for automated lipid data analysis and reliability testing of lipid identifications.
A Poverty and Social Impact Analysis of Three Reforms in Zambia: Land, Fertilizer, and Infrastructure

This paper reviews the findings from a poverty and social impact analysis (PSIA) of three reforms in Zambia: land, fertilizer subsidies, and rural roads. It explains how the PSIA approach was applied to these reforms, and makes suggestions about policy design. This PSIA was done as part of the Bank's Country Economic Memorandum (CEM) for Zambia, in an attempt to tighten the pro-poor focus of the Bank's Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for the country. Data gathered for this paper was through a literature review, surveys, and interviews with stakeholders, and informants. It draws on a participatory poverty research (PPR) done in ten communities, an update of a 25-year longitudinal anthropological study of a village in the Eastern province, and a Fertilizer Roadmap study. The analysis further references an updated rural-household model fashioned for Zambia. The study was based on the premise that: 1) reform is a process, not an edict, nor a document; 2) implementation is as important as policy design in a reform's impact; 3) unintended consequences are not always unknowable; and, 4) where uncertainty exists, analysis of problems actually occurring, is most important to consider. The PSIA looks for the constraints to poverty reduction and for ways to remove them. Zambia's poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP) builds on reducing poverty by increasing agricultural productivity, and, given the importance of agriculture to Zambia's people, most of whom live in poverty, the PSIA attempts to inform on the following two key questions: a) What is the smallholder agriculture's potential for reducing poverty? And, b) Are agricultural reforms the best use of Zambia's scarce capacity and resources?
Comparative Ultrastructure of Ca2+ Release Units in Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle

ABSTRACT: The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of striated muscle fibers interacts with exterior membranes (surface membrane and transverse tubules) to form junctions that are involved in the internal release of calcium during excitation‐contraction coupling. Release of calcium through the ryanodine receptors (RyRs) or calcium release channels of the SR is under the control of the L type calcium channels or dihydropyridine receptors (DHPRs) of exterior membranes. Interacting clusters of the two proteins constitute calcium release units. The cytoplasmic domains of RyRs are visible as large electron‐dense structures (the feet) with four identical subunits in the junctional gap separating SR from exterior membranes. In freeze‐fracture replicas of skeletal muscle, large intramembrane particles are grouped into clusters of tetrads in the exterior membranes, and the tetrads are located in correspondence of the four subunits of the feet. Lack of tetrads in dysgenic muscle fibers with a null mutation for DHPRs and appearance of the tetrads after transfection with cDNA for DHPR indicate identity of tetrads with four DHPRs. In cardiac muscle, DHPRs are located at the sites of SR‐surface junctions, but they are not grouped into tetrads. This is consistent with a possible direct DHPR‐RyR interaction in skeletal but not in cardiac muscle. The size and distribution of SR‐surface junctions in skeletal and cardiac muscles provide further clues to their function.
Recent advances in thin‐layer cytology.

In recent years liquid‐based cytology has emerged as an alternative to conventional cytopreparatory methods. In particular, the ThinPrep system has found broad acceptance in non‐gynecologic cytopreparation. Many laboratories have successfully applied this technique to body fluids (e.g. urine, pleural effusions), brushing samples (e.g. gastrointestinal tract, lung) and fine‐needle aspiration. Most comparative studies have shown the ThinPrep system to perform as well as or better than conventional preparations in non‐gynecologic cytology; plus, the residual cells within the vial can be used for DNA analysis or immunohistochemical and other special studies.
Gender wage differentials and discrimination in Korea: comparison by knowledge intensity of industries

This study estimates the relative size of the non-productivity-related gender wage gap across industries with differing knowledge intensities. More specifically, a gender wage premium was estimated from a modified Mincerian earnings equation, and an Oaxaca's discrimination coefficient was computed. Empirical evidence indicates that gender wage differentials tend to be less subject to potential discrimination in knowledge-based industries than in other industries with lower knowledge intensity. The estimated discrimination effect is least noticeable in top hierarchical occupations such as professionals and technicians, while it is most sizeable in production workers and sales/service workers, regardless of industrial affiliation.
AMPK activation by prolonged stimulation with interleukin‐1β contributes to the promotion of GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle cells

Impaired insulin signaling in skeletal muscle cells causes insulin resistance associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes. Although interleukin (IL)‐1β has been considered to be implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, the action of prolonged stimulation with IL‐1β on the insulin signaling pathway in skeletal muscle cells remains poorly understood. In the current study, we investigated the effect of IL‐1β stimulation on insulin signal transduction from the insulin receptor (IR), resulting in glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation in skeletal muscle cells. In L6‐GLUT4myc cells, stimulation with IL‐1β for 24 h promoted GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane and increased glucose uptake in a concentration‐dependent manner, whereas short‐term stimulation with IL‐1 for up to 6 h did not affect that. In addition, stimulation with IL‐1β for 24 h further increased insulin‐stimulated GLUT4 translocation. Interestingly, stimulation with IL‐1β for 24 h did not cause any change in the phosphorylation of insulin signal molecules IR, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)‐1, Akt, and p21‐activated kinase (PAK1). Stimulation with IL‐1β for 24 h significantly increased AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and GLUT4 protein expression. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting AMPK1/2 significantly inhibited IL‐1β‐stimulated GLUT4 translocation. These results suggest that prolonged stimulation with IL‐1β positively regulates GLUT4 translocation in skeletal muscle cells. IL‐1β may have a beneficial effect on maintaining glucose homeostasis in skeletal muscle cells in patients with type 2 diabetes.
From Subpixel to Superpixel: A Novel Fusion Framework for Hyperspectral Image Classification

Supervised classification of hyperspectral images (HSI) is a very challenging task due to the existence of noisy and mixed spectral characteristics. Recently, the widely developed spectral unmixing techniques offer the possibility to extract spectral mixture information at a subpixel level, which can contribute to the categorization of seriously mixed spectral pixels. Besides, it has been demonstrated that the discrimination between different materials will be improved by integrating the geometry and structure information, which can be derived from the variance between neighboring pixels. Furthermore, by incorporating the spatial context, the superpixel-based spectral–spatial similarity information can be used to smooth classification results in homogeneous regions. Therefore, a novel fusion framework for HSI classification that combines subpixel, pixel, and superpixel-based complementary information is proposed in this paper. Here, both feature fusion and decision fusion schemes are introduced. For the feature fusion scheme, the first step is to extract subpixel-level, pixel-level, and superpixel-level features from HSI, respectively. Then, the multiple feature-induced kernels are fused to form one composite kernel, which is incorporated with a support vector machine (SVM) classifier for label assignment. For the decision fusion scheme, class probabilities based on three different features are estimated by the probabilistic SVM classifier first. Then, the class probabilities are adaptively fused to form a probabilistic decision rule for classification. Experimental results tested on different real HSI images can demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed fusion schemes in improving discrimination capability, when compared with the classification results relied on each individual feature.
Attribute Based Proxy Re-encryption for Data Confidentiality in Cloud Computing Environments

To ensure data confidentiality and fine-grained access control in cloud computing environments, a recent study proposed system model using Key Policy-Attribute Based Encryption(KP-ABE) and Proxy Re-Encryption(PRE). But, existing work has effected the violation of data confidentiality through collusion attack of revoked user in system and cloud server. To resolve this problem, we propose system model that store and divide data file into header, body. In addition, our scheme selectively delegate decryption right using Type-based Proxy re-encryption.