Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the Cell-penetrating Properties of the Epstein-Barr Virus ZEBRA trans-Activator*

The Epstein-Barr virus basic leucine zipper transcriptional activator ZEBRA was shown recently to cross the outer membrane of live cells and to accumulate in the nucleus of lymphocytes. We investigated the potential application of the Epstein-Barr virus trans-activator ZEBRA as a transporter protein to facilitate transduction of cargo proteins. Analysis of different truncated forms of ZEBRA revealed that the minimal domain (MD) required for internalization spans residues 170–220. MD efficiently transported reporter proteins such as enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and β-galactosidase in several normal and tumor cell lines. Functionality of internalized cargo proteins was confirmed by β-galactosidase activity in transduced cells, and no MD-associated cell toxicity was detected. Translocation of MD through the cell membrane required binding to cell surface-associated heparan sulfate proteoglycans as shown by strong inhibition of protein uptake in the presence of heparin. We found that internalization was blocked at 4 °C, whereas no ATP was required as shown by an only 25% decreased uptake efficiency in energy-depleted cells. Common endocytotic inhibitors such as nystatin, chlorpromazine, and wortmannin had no significant impact on MD-EGFP uptake. Only methyl-β-cyclodextrin inhibited MD-EGFP uptake by 40%, implicating the lipid raft-mediated endocytotic pathway. These data suggest that MD-reporter protein transduction occurs mostly via direct translocation through the lipid bilayer and not by endocytosis. This mechanism of MD-mediated internalization is suitable for the efficient delivery of biologically active proteins and renders ZEBRA-MD a promising candidate for therapeutic protein delivery applications.
A NoC Traffic Suite Based on Real Applications

As benchmark programs for microprocessor architectures, network-on-chip (NoC) traffic patterns are essential tools for NoC performance assessments and architecture explorations. The fidelity of NoC traffic patterns has profound influence on NoC studies. For the first time, this paper presents a realistic traffic benchmark suite, called MCSL, and the methodology used to generate it. The publicly released MCSL benchmark suite includes a set of realistic traffic patterns for 8 real applications and covers popular NoC architectures. It captures not only the communication behaviors in NoCs but also the temporal dependencies among them. MCSL benchmark suite can be easily incorporated into existing NoC simulators and significantly improve NoC simulation accuracy. We developed a systematic traffic generation methodology to create MCSL based on real applications. The methodology uses formal computational models to capture both communication and computation requirements of applications. It optimizes application mapping and scheduling to faithfully maximize overall system performance and utilization before extracting realistic traffic patterns through cycle-accurate simulations. Experiment results show that MCSL benchmark suite can be used to study NoC characteristics more accurately than traditional random traffic patterns.
End-to-end vs. hop-by-hop transport

The transport layer has been considered an end-to-end issue since the early days of the Internet in the 1980s [1], when the TCP/IP protocol suite was designed to connect networks of dedicated routers over wired links. However, over the last quarter of a century, network technology as well as the understanding of the Internet has changed, and today's wireless networks differ from the Internet in many aspects. Since wireless links are unreliable, it is often impossible to sustain an end-to-end connection to transmit data in wireless network scenarios. Even if an end-to-end path exists in the network topology for some fraction of the communication, it is likely to break due to signal propagation impairments, interference, or node mobility. Under these circumstances, the operation of an end-to-end transport protocol such as TCP may be severly affected.
Image Quality in Children with Low-Radiation Chest CT Using Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction and Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction

Objective To evaluate noise reduction and image quality improvement in low-radiation dose chest CT images in children using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) and a full model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) algorithm. Methods Forty-five children (age ranging from 28 days to 6 years, median of 1.8 years) who received low-dose chest CT scans were included. Age-dependent noise index (NI) was used for acquisition. Images were retrospectively reconstructed using three methods: MBIR, 60% of ASIR and 40% of conventional filtered back-projection (FBP), and FBP. The subjective quality of the images was independently evaluated by two radiologists. Objective noises in the left ventricle (LV), muscle, fat, descending aorta and lung field at the layer with the largest cross-section area of LV were measured, with the region of interest about one fourth to half of the area of descending aorta. Optimized signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated. Result In terms of subjective quality, MBIR images were significantly better than ASIR and FBP in image noise and visibility of tiny structures, but blurred edges were observed. In terms of objective noise, MBIR and ASIR reconstruction decreased the image noise by 55.2% and 31.8%, respectively, for LV compared with FBP. Similarly, MBIR and ASIR reconstruction increased the SNR by 124.0% and 46.2%, respectively, compared with FBP. Conclusion Compared with FBP and ASIR, overall image quality and noise reduction were significantly improved by MBIR. MBIR image could reconstruct eligible chest CT images in children with lower radiation dose.
“Is this bullying?” Understanding target and witness reactions

Purpose – This paper seeks to theorize the interpretations and reactions of targets and witnesses to subtle forms of bullying.Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical approach was used to understand target and witness interpretations and reactions. Learned helplessness theory and social influence theory are drawn upon.Findings – This paper revealed that subtle forms of bullying behaviors will be more likely to induce confusion from both targets and witnesses. Targets will tend to be more confused in response to subtle bullying and attribute environmental factors for the behaviors. This will decrease their likelihood to react against the bullying. Witnesses will also experience greater confusion and will tend to side with the perpetrator, particularly when the perpetrator is an important organizational member (e.g. supervisor). Witnesses may internalize the behaviors, leading to greater permeability of the bullying through the organization.Originality/value – This paper sheds light on two important and .
Schooling Opportunities for Girls as a Stimulus for Fertility Change in Rural Pakistan*

This paper tests Caldwells mass schooling hypothesis in the context of rural Pakistan. His hypothesis was that the onset of the fertility transition is closely linked to the achievement of “mass formal schooling” of boys and girls. Punjab and Northeast Frontier Provinces (NWFP) were selected for this study because they appear to be on the leading edge of the demographic transition--a transition that has only recently begun--as suggested by rapid recent increases in contraceptive practice. The study covered a range of rural villages or communities with very different socioeconomic and schooling conditions in order to examine the effects of both school access and quality on family-building behavior in Pakistan. The study concludes that gender equity in the schooling environment as measured by the number of public primary schools for girls in the community or by the ratio of the number of girls’ schools to boys’ schools has a statistically significant effect on the probability that a woman will express a desire to stop childbearing and by extension on the probability that she will operationalize those desires by practicing contraception. Indeed the achievement of gender equity in primary school access in rural Punjab and NWFP could lead to a 14-15 percentage point rise in contraceptive use in villages where no girls’ public primary school currently exists and an 8 percentage point rise in villages with one primary school for girls. This is entirely supportive of the Caldwell argument that mass schooling is an important determinant of fertility change particularly when girls are included. It would appear that fertility change will be more difficult and will come much more slowly when girls are left behind. (authors)
Exploring Qualitative Data : the use of Big Data technology as support in strategic decision-making

This paper is a preliminary study that investigates whether the Big Data technology contributes to making the strategic decision-making more objective. Decisions depend on the decision-makers´ knowledge and intuition, the characteristics of decision task as well as the quality of the data analysed. Focusing on the decision objective component, it appears that the contemporary business context is characterised by: (I) a vast amount of data, but not all of this is meaningful; and (II) an unexplored kind of data, namely qualitative data. The aim of the paper is twofold. Firstly, to elaborate a theoretical framework integrating Big Data technology into strategic decision-making. And secondly, assessing the feasibility of the elaborated model on a strategic variable in the hi-tech field.
Mortality of employees of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, 1946-79.

Mortality of employees of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, 1946-79 Sarah C Darbv, P1ID, and others . 672 Paediatric anaesthesia C Richards, NIRCGI'; S Holt, FRCS; Nancy G S Fisher, FFARCS, and others. 672 Gastric microflora A C Swift, FRCS, and others . 673 Co-trimoxazole toxicity Sir Abraham Goldherg, FRCI' . 673 British blood cholesterol values and the American consensus Julian Tudor Hart, FRC(;P; A MNacnair, MB. 673 Helping heroin addicts kick the habit DC Drummond, . B. 674 Antisecretory drugs and gastric cancer D Jack, PIID, and others . 675 Medical patients aged 65 and over admitted to an accident and emergency department G Freeman, MRCGP, and P Burke, MRCGP; E M Saunderson, MRCGP, and others; S P Bullimore, MB; M Wilkinson, MB; Gillian H Jenner, MRCP 675 Serum fructosamine concentration as a measure of blood glucose control in type I diabetes mellitus E J Hindle, PHD, and R Glenise, MB . 676 Recruiting new principals in general practice N F EarlvsSI B . 676 Failure of acyclovir cream in treatment of herpes labialis G W Raborn, DDS . 677 Effect of intravenous infusion of insulin in diabetics with acute myocardial infarction R J Jarrett, FFCM; G A Oswald, MRCP, and J S Yudkin, MD; R S Clark, MRCP; B L Pentecost, FRCP, and others . 677
Technologies and methods for sample pretreatment in efficient proteome and peptidome analysis

Although great progresses have been made in proteomics during the last decade, proteomics is still in its infancy. Extreme complexity of proteome sample and large dynamic range of protein abundance overwhelm the capability of all currently available analytical platforms. Sample pretreatment is a good approach to reduce the complexity of proteome sample and decrease the dynamic range. In this article, we present an overview of different technologies and methods for sample pretreatment in efficient proteome and peptidome analysis. Methods for isolation of rare amino acid‐containing peptides, terminal peptides, PTM peptides and endogenous peptides are reviewed. In addition, two automated sample pretreatment technologies, i.e. automated sample injection and on‐line digestion, are also covered.
A Channel-Adaptive Early Termination strategy for LDPC decoders

In this paper, we propose a new Channel-Adaptive Early Termination (CAET) strategy to early stop Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) decoders. Our method checks the sign-changing rate of the log-likelihood ratios, and is able to perform the early termination under all SNR ranges with simple methodology. The average decoding latency can be decreased from the preset number of 8 to 6.73 iterations with negligible performance degradation. In addition, we create the BER Performance Loss Ratio (BPLR) index to evaluate the performance loss of different ET criteria. Compared to the Hard-Decision-Aided criterion, our CAET strategy reduces the decoding iterations effectively and improves the BPLR by 76.6%.
Managing Temporal Financial Data in an Extensible Database

1 Introduction Complex financial products and trading applications are difficult to model and implement in conventional commercial databases due to temporal, object, rule and other data support requirements. Extensible database systems provide a better solution because of the ability to define complex data types, manipulate data of type procedure , define rules, operators and access methods to optimize these operators. The paper discusses the design issues in modeling financial trading systems in extensi-ble DBMS. The complexity of financial products is analyzed and strategies for modeling these products are pro posed. Operators relevant to financial trading are discussed alongwith access methods to optimize these operators. The paper describes an implementation of a financial trading system in POSTGRES. Since 1971, after the breakdown of the Bretton WoodswANK system of fixed exchange rates, financial markets have seen a sharp increase in the fluctuation of interest rates and exchange rates. The past 20 years have also seen rapid advances in information technology that make it possible to collect and process large amounts of data. These events, when coupled with the sophistication of financial theory, have created a marketplace of a vast array of financial products that cater to different investment needs. Financial Trading Applications, which are meant to facilitate trading in these products, have also become very complex because : There are a variety of complex financial products available and the dynamic nature of the market, coupled with a decrease in regulation, has created a situation in which new products are introduced often and old ones discontinued. Trading strategies are baaed on numerically intensive procedures and complex mathematical relationships between financial products. The decrease in the cost of telecommunications and the increased reliability of networks make profitable trading opportunities available only for short periods of time. of Energy under Contract DEACO3-76SFWOQS. Pennirrion to copy witliout fee all or part of tlir material ir granted provided tlat tAc copier are not made or distributed for direct commercial advantage, tAc VLDB copyriglt notice and tAe title of the publitaiion and iir date appear; and notice in given tAat copying ir by pemaierion of tAe Ver) Large Data Base Endowmeni. To copy oiAetwire, or to republirl, reqmiree e fee and/or rpecial permiraion from tAc Endowment. The proliferation of financial products, increase in information and rapid advances in technology keep trading houses and investment firms under constant pressure to develop new ad-hoc applications for financial trading support. These …
Using affective trajectories to describe states of flow in interactive art

Interactive Art installations often integrate sophisticated interaction techniques with visual presentations contributing to a rich user experience. They also provide a privileged environment in which to study user experience by using the same sensing data that support interaction. In this paper, using the affective interface of an Augmented Reality Art installation, we introduce a framework relating real-time emotional data to phenomenological models of user experience, in particular the concept of Flow. We propose to analyse trajectories of affect in a continuous emotional space (Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance), to characterize user experience. Early experiments with several subjects interacting in pairs with the installation support this mapping on the basis of Flow questionnaires. This approach has potential implications for the analysis of user experience across Art and Entertainment applications.
The brain as a flexible task machine: implications for visual rehabilitation using noninvasive vs. invasive approaches.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The exciting view of our brain as highly flexible task-based and not sensory-based raises the chances for visual rehabilitation, long considered unachievable, given adequate training in teaching the brain how to see. Recent advances in rehabilitation approaches, both noninvasive, like sensory substitution devices (SSDs) which present visual information using sound or touch, and invasive, like visual prosthesis, may potentially be used to achieve this goal, each alone, and most preferably together. RECENT FINDINGS Visual impairments and said solutions are being used as a model for answering fundamental questions ranging from basic cognitive neuroscience, showing that several key visual brain areas are actually highly flexible, modality-independent and, as was recently shown, even visual experience-independent task machines, to technological and behavioral developments, allowing blind persons to 'see' using SSDs and other approaches. SUMMARY SSDs can be potentially used as a research tool for assessing the brain's functional organization; as an aid for the blind in daily visual tasks; to visually train the brain prior to invasive procedures, by taking advantage of the 'visual' cortex's flexibility and task specialization even in the absence of vision; and to augment postsurgery functional vision using a unique SSD-prostheses hybrid. Taken together the reviewed results suggest a brighter future for visual neuro-rehabilitation.
Animal group behavioral model with Evasion Mechanism

Modeling behavioral mechanism of animal group promotes the development of group animation and other fields involving crowd simulation. This paper introduces a model to mimic behaviors of animal group. We proposes a swarming intelligence algorithm, Evasion Mechanism Artificial Fish School Algorithm (EM-AFSA) in our model, in which AFSA often focuses on optimization. The EM-AFSA introduces a new mechanism, i.e. evasion, which enables the group to avoid obstacles and collisions and to evade predation. It also includes flocking, foraging and tailgating. It is convenient to show the dynamic demonstration of our model and the model vividly mimics the real animal group behavior, which could potentially be used in designing group animation.
Spillover Events of Infection of Brown Hares (Lepus europaeus) with Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Type 2 Virus (RHDV2) Caused Sporadic Cases of an European Brown Hare Syndrome‐Like Disease in Italy and Spain

Summary Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is a lagovirus that can cause fatal hepatitis (rabbit haemorrhagic disease, RHD) with mortality of 80–90% in farmed and wild rabbits. Since 1986, RHDV has caused outbreaks in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Europe, but never in European brown hares (Lepus europaeus, EBH). In 2010, a new RHDV‐related virus, called RHDV2, emerged in Europe, causing extended epidemics because it largely overcame the immunity to RHDV present in most rabbit populations. RHDV2 also was identified in Cape hare (Lepus capensis subsp. mediterraneus) and in Italian hare (Lepus corsicanus). Here, we describe two distinct incidents of RHDV2 infection in EBH that occurred in Italy (2012) and Spain (2014). The two RHDV2 strains caused macroscopic and microscopic lesions similar to European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) in hares, and they were genetically related to other RHDV2 strains in Europe. EBHs are common in Europe, often sharing habitat with rabbits. They likely have been exposed to high levels of RHDV2 during outbreaks in rabbits in recent years, yet only two incidents of RHDV2 in EBHs have been found in Italy and Spain, suggesting that EBHs are not a primary host. Instead, they may act as spillover hosts in situations when infection pressure is high and barriers between rabbits and hares are limited, resulting in occasional infections causing EBHS‐like lesions. The serological survey of stocked hare sera taken from Italian and Spanish hare populations provided an understanding of naturally occurring RHDV2 infection in the field confirming its sporadic occurrence in EBH. Our findings increase the knowledge on distribution, host range and epidemiology of RHDV2.
Analysis of the Runtime Linux Operating System as a Complex Weighted Network

The structures and behaviors of modern software systems are more and more complicated, thus the modeling of the runtime software systems is difficult. In this paper, we model the runtime Linux operating system (LOS) as a weighted network to investigate the execution process of LOS. The topologies of the weighted LOS network are analyzed and it is found that the weight distribution follows a power-law distribution. For better understanding the execution process of LOS, we explore the manifestations of LOS components. The result shows that the component of process management plays the key role in the execution process of LOS. Moreover, an assessment of the reliability of LOS is proposed by considering the execution status of LOS as a discrete time Markov chain. The reliabilities of 10 LOS versions ranging from versions 3.15 to 4.4 are compared and the result shows that the reliability declines. Our work may shed a light on the testing and monitoring processes of software systems.
Family physician perceptions of working with LGBTQ patients: physician training needs

Background Medical students and physicians report feeling under-prepared for working with patients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ). Understanding physician perceptions of this area of practice may aid in developing improved education. Method In-depth interviews with 24 general practice physicians in Halifax and Vancouver, Canada, were used to explore whether, when and how the gender identity and sexual orientation of LGBTQ women were relevant to good care. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted using ATLAS.ti data analysis software. Results Three major themes emerged: 1) Some physicians perceived that sexual/gender identity makes little or no difference; treating every patient as an individual while avoiding labels optimises care for everyone. 2) Some physicians perceived sexual/gender identity matters primarily for the provision of holistic care, and in order to address the effects of discrimination. 3) Some physicians perceived that sexual/gender identity both matters and does not matter, as they strove to balance the implications of social group membership with recognition of individual differences. Conclusions Physicians may be ignoring important aspects of social group memberships that affect health and health care. The authors hold that individual and socio-cultural differences are both important to the provision of quality health care. Distinct from stereotypes, generalisations about social group differences can provide valuable starting points, raising useful lines of inquiry. Emphasizing this distinction in medical education may help change physician approaches to the care of LGBTQ women.