Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The measurement of exercise motives: Factorial validity and invariance across gender of a revised Exercise Motivations Inventory

Objectives. The aim of this study was to further develop and refine the Exercise Motivations Inventory (EMI), a measure of individuals' reasons for exercising. Design. Confirmatory factor analytic procedures using LISREL were employed to test the hypothesized 14-factor structure of the revised instrument (the EMI-2) and the invariance of the factor structure across gender. Methods. Four hundred and twenty-five civil servants completed the revised instrument. Analyses were conducted in three phases. Phase 1 involved detailed examination of the fit of the 14-factors separately in order to detect and eliminate poor indicators. In Phase 2 each factor was paired with every other factor in order to detect and eliminate ambiguous items. In Phase 3 factors were grouped with conceptually related factors into five submodels and the fit and factorial invariance across gender of these submodels was tested. Results. Item elimination at Phases 1 and 2 led to the development of a set of internally consistent factors with strong indicators and good discriminant validity. Phase 3 gave further evidence for the convergent and discriminant validity of the items and factors and strong support for the invariance of the factor structure across gender. Conclusions. The EMI-2 is a factorially valid means of assessing a broad range of exercise participation motives in adult males and females, applicable to both exercisers and non-exercisers.
Multipacket reception performance in the presence of in-band full duplex communication

In-Band Full-Duplex (FDX) and MultiPacket Reception (MPR) are two transmission technologies that can be used together to improve the overall network capacity. However, the FDX Self-Interference Cancellation (SIC) techniques only filter part of the transmitted signal from the reception. This paper analyses how the FDX SIC residual noise influences the performance of MPR systems. It considers power diversity MPR, based on interference cancellation (IC) techniques, and time/frequency spreading MPR, such as code division multiple access or network diversity multiple access. The FDX coverage range is related with the FDX SIC attenuation. It is shown that the aggregate throughput can be increased by a factor P + 1 for P MTs when IC-based MPR is used for short range communications, but broader ranges require other less efficient MPR approaches. It is also shown that half-duplex can coexist with the FDX communications, providing an enlarged coverage outside the FDX communication range.
Efficient countermeasure for reliable KECCAK architecture against fault attacks

The cryptographic KECCAK algorithm has been developed by the circuit architect with the objective to enhance the design performances from frequency, throughput, efficiency, power consumption and area viewpoint of. The cryptographic KECCAK algorithm is implemented in many cryptographic circuits to ensure security. It is become the standard algorithm used to ensure the information integrity in numerous applications. To secure the KECCAK algorithm against the physical attacks as the fault attacks, a few numbers of countermeasures have been proposed. These fault attacks consist to inject a faulty data into KECCAK design to obtain the confidential information. In this work, we proposed a fault detection scheme based scrambling technique to secure KECCAK algorithm. We explain the KECCAK scheme details in each operation. The simulation faults results demonstrate that the fault coverage percentage reaches 99.995% for KECCAK scheme. In addition, the proposed architecture has been implemented on the FPGA platform. The frequency and the throughput degradations and area overhead of the KECCAK detection scheme have been evaluated and it is shown that our scheme leads high performances from frequency and throughput viewpoint.
Trihydroxynaphthalene reductase from Magnaporthe grisea: realization of an active center inhibitor and elucidation of the kinetic mechanism.

Active trihydroxynaphthalene reductase (3HNR) is essential for the biosynthesis of fungal melanin by Magnaporthe grisea and is a focus of inhibitor design studies directed toward control of blast disease in rice. Tricyclazole, a preventative fungicide against rice blast, has been previously characterized as inhibiting 3HNR noncompetitively [Viviani, F. , Vors, J. P., Gaudry, M. , & Marquet, A. (1993) Bull. Soc. Chem. Fr. 136, 395-404] with respect to its naphthol substrate. Our steady-state kinetic and fluorescence titration studies show that instead the inhibitor binds competitively with respect to the naphthol substrate and that it binds to 3HNR forms with the preferences 3HNR.NADPH > 3HNR.NADP+ > 3HNR (unliganded): Kt = 15 nM, 0.56 microM, and Kd = 8.5 microM, respectively. Analysis of the frontier molecular orbitals of tricyclazole and NADP(H) provides a basis for the affinity differences of tricyclazole for 3HNR.NADP(H) enzyme forms. Fluorescence titrations show that NADPH and naphthol substrates form binary complexes with 3HNR [Kd(NADP+) = 38 microM and Kd(U7278, an alternate naphthol-like substrate) = 220 microM]. However, the overwhelmingly preferred order of productive binding is NADPH followed by naphthol substrate, as shown by the uncompetitive inhibition of 3HNR by tricyclazole with respect to NADPH. Consistent with this mechanism, the K(m)'s for the naphthol substrates U7278 and scytalone (5 and 6 microM, respectively) are much lower than the Kd's of the binary complexes. The partition ratio of U7278 and a physiological substrate (scytalone) was 95:1 and unchanged on varying 3HNR.NADP+/3HNR(unliganded), which is also consistent with the ordered mechanism. The pH dependence of the hydride transfer rate from U7278 to NADP+ was measured, as was the pH dependence of Kcat/K(m)(NADP+). Hydride transfer had a pH dependence which suggests a single deprotonated residue (pKa = 6.0) is required for catalysis. Khyd, the rate constant for hydride transfer, was 9-fold larger than Kcat with U7278 as a substrate. A burst in the pre-steady-state suggests that release of one or both of the products is rate limiting to Kcat at pH 7.0. The pH dependence of Kcat/K(m)(NADP+) indicates a requirement for a single deprotonated group and this ionization is assigned to the 2' phosphate of NADP+. 3HNR was found to be 800-fold more specific for NADP+ relative to NAD+. Analysis of sequence and structure [Anderson, A. , Jordan, D. B. , Schneider. G. , & Lindqvist. Y. (1996) Structure 4, 1161-1170] reveals that 3HNR is a member of the short-chain dehydrogenase superfamily of enzymes.
Estetrol, a pregnancy-specific human steroid, prevents and suppresses mammary tumor growth in a rat model

Estetrol (E4) is a pregnancy-specific D-ring metabolite of estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3) produced by the human fetal liver and present in both male and female fetuses. In adults, female exposure is restricted to the gestational period. We report that E4, dose-dependently, prevents the growth of chemically induced (7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, DMBA) mammary tumors in female Sprague–Dawley rats and that E4 has the potential to reduce the number and size of pre-existing mammary tumors. We performed two prevention studies and one intervention study. In the prevention studies, we investigated the effect of oral doses of E4 over a dose range of 0.5–3.0 mg/kg. The intervention study used oral dose levels of 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg E4. The antiestrogen tamoxifen was used as reference compound in all three studies and ovariectomy and ethinylestradiol, at estrogenic doses pharmacologically equipotent to E4, acted as control treatments in the second prevention study and in the intervention study. Rats treated with DMBA develop estrogen-responsive breast tumors. This model has become the standard pharmacological model to investigate the effect of new compounds on breast tumors. When DMBA-induced rats were co-treated with E4 for 8 weeks, this resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the number and size of tumors, an effect that appeared equally effective as tamoxifen treatment or ovariectomy and was not seen with ethinylestradiol. When E4 was administered to rats in which tumors had already developed, a significant decrease in the number and size of tumors was observed after 4 weeks. This decrease was dose-dependent, comparable to tamoxifen-treated animals, and at high dose levels E4 was as effective as ovariectomy.
Longitudinal Impact of Perceived Self-Regulatory Efficacy on Violent Conduct

The present study examined the longitudinal impact of perceived self-regulatory efficacy and parental communication on violent conduct. Adolescents' perceived efficacy to resist peer pressure for transgressive activities counteracted engagement in violent conduct both directly and by fostering open communication with parents. Parental communication was linked to violent conduct concurrently but not longitudinally. There were gender differences in level of engagement in violent activities, but the causal structures were the same. Perceived self-regulatory efficacy contributed to violent conduct both concurrently and longitudinally after controlling for prior level of violent conduct and openness of parental communication.
SEROCLINICAL DIAGNOSIS OF Anaplasma marginale BACTERIA IN CARRIER ARABIAN ONE - HUMPED CAMELS

Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease of ruminants and wild animals that caused by an intra erythrocytic bacterium, Anaplasma marginale. Under natural conditions, camels become infected in areas where the disease is endemic. Camels that survive from acute infection become carriers because of the capability of these bacteria to deception the immune system using antigenic variations. Although, several serological methods were concerned for Anaplasma marginale IgG antibodies detection, but the competitive indirect ELISA test was more sensitivity and specificity. The present study was conducted at AlNajaf and Wasit provinces on 120 camels, selected randomly from both sexes and divided into two aged groups. The total sero positivity prevalence was (10.83%); and depending on provincial basis was (8.57%) in Al-Najaf and (14%) in Wasit provinces. Clinically, the sero positive prevalence two age groups (<5 and >5 years old) had (6.67%) and (15%), respectively. No significant differences (P<0.005) were encountered in sero positive camels in related to sex and vital signs (temperature, respiratory and heart rates), emaciation and paleness of the mucous membrane, while the rough hair coat and presence of ticks encountered a significant difference (P< 0.05).
ARIS Process Performance Manager

ARIS Process Performance Manager (ARIS PPM) es una herramienta que permite a las empresas supervisar y analizar el rendimiento y la estructura de sus procesos empresariales. ARIS PPM optimiza continuamente los flujos de trabajo internos y externos, realizando de este modo una contribución crucial para el éxito de la empresa. Distintos departamentos también utilizan el software satisfactoriamente para supervisar acuerdos de nivel de servicio relacionados con procesos básicos, como por ejemplo el tratamiento de pedidos, el aprovisionamiento, el mantenimiento y la actualización, el transporte y la logística, el tratamiento de préstamos y las transacciones de valores en el sector financiero y la gestión de nuevas solicitudes y reclamaciones de seguros, entre otros.
Exploring recurrent neural network based acoustic and linguistic modeling for children's speech recognition

The conventional automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems employ the GMM-HMM for acoustic modeling and the n-gram for language modeling. Over the last decade, the deep feed-forward neural network (DFNN) has almost replaced the GMM in acoustic modeling. The current ASR systems are predominantly based on the DFNN-HMM acoustic model and the n-gram language model (LM). Owing to better long-term context modeling ability, the recurrent neural network (RNN) based LMs have already been reported to yield lower perplexity than the n-gram LMs. Recently a variant of RNN, the longshort term memory (LSTM) has been successfully explored in acoustic modeling. Interestingly, the evaluation of an ASR system employing both RNN-based acoustic and linguistic modeling is yet to be reported. Further, we note that most of these advancements are explored in the context of adults' ASR only. Motivated by those works, in this paper we explore LSTM-based acoustic modeling combined with RNN-based LM for children's ASR. Our experimental results show that such combined RNN-based modeling is found effective in both matched and mismatched children's ASR tasks.
Antibacterial electrospun chitosan‐based nanofibers: A bacterial membrane perforator

Abstract This study investigates the antibacterial action of chitosan‐based nanofibers (CNFs) obtained by the electrospinning process on the permeability of bacterial membranes. The bactericidal efficiency of CNFs was first determined against Gram‐negative Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium, and Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria innocua bacteria as a baseline. The results strongly suggest that CNFs interact with the negatively charged bacterial cell wall causing membrane rupture and inducing leakage of intracellular components among which are proteins and DNA. Results clearly indicate that the release of such components after contact with CNFs is an indication of membrane permeabilization and perforation, as pore formation was observed in transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This work suggests a plausible antibacterial mechanism of action of CNFs and also provides clear evidence in favor of chitosan as a bacterial membrane disruptor and perforator. As a result, CNFs can find promising applications as bioactive food packaging materials capable to extend shelf life of food products while inhibiting the spread of alteration flora and foodborne pathogens.
Assessment of Platelet Inhibition by Point-of-Care Testing in Neuroendovascular Procedures

SUMMARY: Antiplatelet agents are an important component of the preventive strategies currently used in clinical practice to minimize the risk of thromboembolic events during and after endovascular procedures. Because of the variability in the response to antiplatelet agents, measuring the degree of platelet inhibition may help identify and properly treat poor responders. POC testing is defined as diagnostic testing at or near the site of patient care. Knowledge of the specifics of these devices among practicing neurointerventionalists is relatively limited. In this article, the different POC devices available are presented, and their clinical utility in relation to endovascular procedures is discussed.
A Mutation in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Gag Protein Destabilizes the Interaction of the Envelope Protein Subunits gp120 and gp41

ABSTRACT The Gag protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) associates with the envelope protein complex during virus assembly. The available evidence indicates that this interaction involves recognition of the gp41 cytoplasmic tail (CT) by the matrix protein (MA) region of Pr55Gag. Here we show that substitution of Asp for Leu at position 49 (L49D) in MA results in a specific reduction in particle-associated gp120 without affecting the levels of gp41. Mutant virions were markedly reduced in single-cycle infectivity despite a relatively modest defect in fusion with target cells. Studies with HIV-1 particles containing decreased levels of envelope proteins suggested that the L49D mutation also inhibits a postentry step in infection. Truncation of the gp41 tail, or pseudotyping by vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein, restored both the fusion and infectivity of L49D mutant virions to wild-type levels. Truncation of gp41 also resulted in equivalent levels of gp120 on particles with and without the MA mutation and enhanced the replication of the L49D mutant virus in T cells. The impaired fusion and infectivity of L49D mutant particles were also complemented by a single point mutation in the gp41 CT that disrupted the tyrosine-containing endocytic motif. Our results suggest that an altered interaction between the MA domain of Gag and the gp41 cytoplasmic tail leads to dissociation of gp120 from gp41 during HIV-1 particle assembly, thus resulting in impaired fusion and infectivity.
Landslide vulnerability evaluation: A case study from Sichuan, China

Selecting Sichuan Province as the study area, setting rainfall-induced shallow landslide hazard for the research objectives, choosing slope, fault zone, rivers, lithology, soil type and vegetation as the main evaluation factors of the environmental vulnerability assessment. Based on the landslides disaster database since 5.12 Earthquake in Sichuan Province, the weights of the evaluation factors are determined. Producing 2008–2010 environmental vulnerability assessment maps in Sichuan Province Using Analytic Hierarchy Process with the GIS software, and the Spatial resolution of which is 250 meters. The risk of the environmental vulnerability assessment maps are divided into five levels: Slight(I), mild(II), moderate(III), high(IV) and the highest (V) risk areas. From this study, we conclude that vulnerability is with temporal and spatial distribution, and it can be quantified effectively using AHP model.
Bovine papillomavirus type 1 E1 and simian virus 40 large T antigen share regions of sequence similarity required for multiple functions

The full-length product of the bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) E1 translational open reading frame is required for viral DNA replication in vivo and in vitro. E1 is a multifunctional protein whose properties include ATP binding, acting as an ATPase-dependent DNA helicase, DNA binding to the BPV-1 origin of viral DNA replication, and association with the E2 transcriptional transactivator, E2TA, a second viral protein involved in DNA replication. All of these properties are thought to be important for E1's role in replicating the viral genome. In addition BPV-1 E1 can inhibit activation of the viral P89 promoter by the BPV-1 E2TA. E1 has amino acid homology with eight regions of SV40 large tumor antigen (T-ag), a DNA helicase that is essential for the replication of the SV40 DNA genome. These eight regions of similarity lie within the domain of T-ag that confers DNA helicase activity. We created a series of missense mutations in BPV-1 E1 at codons 295, 344-345, 446, 464, 466, 497-498, 523, and 542, which encode amino acids of identity in seven of the eight regions of similarity between E1 and T-ag, and at codon 370. The activities of these mutant E1 genes were compared to wild-type E1 in multiple assays that measured DNA replication, inhibition of E2TA-dependent transcription, DNA binding, ATP binding, and protein expression. Based upon these analyses, the following conclusions were made: (i) at least five of the eight regions in E1 that are similar to regions in T-ag are functionally important in viral DNA replication; (ii) specific E1 missense mutants, themselves defective for supporting DNA replication, could act in trans to suppress the replication function of wild-type E1; (iii) certain regions of similarity with T-ag that are important for E1's ability to support DNA replication are not necessary for its capacity to inhibit E2TA-dependent transcription; and (iv) efficient DNA binding by E1 is not essential for E1 to inhibit E2TA-dependent transcription.
Visualisation techniques to support public interpretation of future climate change and land-use choices: a case study from N-E Scotland

ABSTRACT Mitigating and adapting to climate change includes a requirement to evaluate the role of future land uses in delivering robust integrated responses that are sensitive to local landscape contexts. In practice, this emphasises the need for community engagement, planning and inclusive decision-making. Community engagement may be potentially facilitated by the use of spatially explicit quantitative scenarios of land-use change in combination with interactive visualisation. This requires a coherent framework to integrate spatial data modelling, analytical capabilities and visualisation tools in a format that will also engage diverse public audiences. These challenges were explored with a case study of virtual landscapes from N-E Scotland that was used to test preferences for scenarios of future land use. Visualisations employed texture-based rendering rather than full photo-realistic rendering to facilitate interactivity and this provided additional scope for audiences to explore multiple future scenarios compared to the present landscape. Interactive voting in a virtual landscape theatre suggested preferences for visual diversity, good stewardship and perceived naturalness that should be considered in developing planned responses to change. Further investigation of preferences was conducted using interactive 3D features located within the landscape. Study findings are reviewed against objectives for inclusive engagement in the Digital Earth agenda and used to make further recommendations on the use of scenarios and visualisation tools. In particular, technical advances in user engagement need to be developed in conjunction with emerging good practice that addresses ethical, behavioural and inclusion issues so that the content is presented in as transparent and unbiased format as possible.
User performance and reading strategies for metro maps: An eye tracking study

We conducted a controlled empirical eye tracking study with 40 participants using schematic metro maps. The study focused on two aspects: determining different reading strategies and assessing user performance. We considered the following factors: color encoding (color vs. gray-scale), map complexity (three levels), and task difficulty (three levels). There was one type of task: find a route from a start to a target location and state the number of transfers that have to be performed. To identify reading strategies, we annotated fixations of scanpaths, computed a transition matrix of each annotated scanpath, and used these matrices as input to cluster scanpaths into groups of similar behavior. We show how these reading strategies relate to the geodesic structure of the scanpaths' fixations projected onto the geodesic line that connects start and target locations. The analysis of the eye tracking data is complemented by statistical inference working on two eye tracking metrics (average fixation duration and saccade length). User performance was evaluated with a statistical analysis of task correctness and completion time. Our study shows that the design factors have a significant impact on user task performance. Also, we were able to identify typical reading strategies like directly finding a path from start to target location. Often, participants check the correctness of their result multiple times by moving back and forth between start and target. Our findings also indicate that the choice of reading strategies does not depend on whether color or gray-scale encoding is used.
Staurosporine induces tyrosine phosphorylation in Dictyostelium discoideum proteins

The treatment of cells with staurosporine results in inhibition and less frequently activation of protein kinases, in a cell‐type specific manner. In the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, staurosporine induces marked changes in cell morphology affecting growth and development. Here we describe that incubation of D. discoideum growing or starved cells with staurosporine results in a rapid and unexpected tyrosine phosphorylation on two polypeptides of ∼64 and ∼62 kDa. These proteins emerge as novel substrates for tyrosine phosphorylation opening up new perspectives for the study of cell signalling in D. discoideum. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.