Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High-resolution isotope-dilution mass spectrometry using metabolism of isotope-labeled compounds: application to drug metabolites.

RATIONALE Herein we describe a generic quantitative method using high-resolution, isotope-dilution (HRID) metabolism of isotope-labeled compounds and apply it to the analysis of drug metabolites (DMs) in human plasma. Metabolites (drug) in Safety Testing (MIST) application was one goal. METHODS Testosterone (T) and diclofenac (D) were chosen for mass defect characteristics. T, [(14)C]T, [(13)C(3)]T, D, [(14)C]D, and [(13)C(6)]D were metabolized separately in vitro to produce test metabolites. Liquid chromatography/radioactivity monitoring (LC/RAM) analysis was used to determine the concentration of the test metabolites in the incubates. The incubates containing 6β-hydroxy-T (6βHT), [(13)C(3)]6βHT, 4'-hydroxy-D (4'HD) and [(13)C(6)]4'HD were used to make standard curves. Plasma samples were prepared by 'dilute-and-shoot' and analyzed by LC/MS using SCIEX 5000 and Thermo Orbitrap instrumentation. RESULTS Human hepatic microsomes and the S9 fraction produced between 2-6 μM β-hydroxy-T and 4'-hydroxy-D at 60 min starting with 10 μM parent drug as determined by LC/RAM. It was assumed that the amounts of [(13)C(3)]6βHT and [(13)C(6)]4'HD produced were similar. Dilutions and standard curves were prepared in human plasma. Analysis of the DMs by LC/MS/MS and LC/HRMS exhibited linear responses over a useable range. CONCLUSIONS HRID with metabolism of an isotope-labeled compound reduces the number of analytical variables considerably. Metabolism of the parent drug to DMs represents a simpler alternative quantitative method compared with traditional approaches. The method will have useful applications for evaluating MIST situations.
Removing some DMUs in DEA

Heretofore one of the issues which has not considered in DEA sensitivity analysis is modification in the number of decision making units. In this paper some of DMUs are deleted and the influence of it (deleting one or multiple DMUs) is examined. At first two systems are presented for determining the influence of deleting one or multiple DMUs on efficiency status of other DMUs. Then a model is presented for minimizing the number of deleted DMUs such that an inefficient unit becomes efficient. Finally the presented model and systems are utilized for a set of DMUs and the results are reported.
Socio-technical, organizational and political dimensions of idea work in a mature industrial R&D setting

The work with ideas is perceived by both academics and industry to be an important element in new product development and has thus been the subject of investigation in many different research fields. Creativity research has especially focused on the creation of ideas; innovation management literature has focused on the sources of ideas and their relation to front-end innovation activities; and design methodology literature reports studies of what kind of stimuli can affect idea generation in the concept phase. However, although these contributions are important in developing an understanding of idea work, we also need to consider the sociotechnical and organizational dimensions of idea work, since these dimensions can not only help us illuminate the moment of idea creation, but also the subsequent activities involved in how ideas are recognized, supported, developed and implemented. In this paper, we investigate how ideas emerge and gain momentum in a large industrial company. We do this through an in-depth case study of the development of the energy-labeled circulation pump Alpha Pro, developed by one of the world’s leading pump manufacturers Grundfos. In our study, we observe that: 1) ideas are pieced together from previous ideas and results; 2) ideas are carried through by continuous mobilization of support and development of legitimate arguments; and 3) idea work is more than an engineering task. Furthermore, we observe that idea work is an ongoing process undertaken across different projects, actors, departments, strategies and visions within the company, and sometimes also involves external actors across companies and organizations.
An Online Battery Impedance Measurement Method Using DC–DC Power Converter Control

This paper presents a simple online impedance measurement method for electrochemical batteries, including lithium-ion, lead-acid, and nickel-metal-hydride chemistries. By using the proposed online impedance measurement method, there is no need to disconnect the battery from the system or to interrupt system operation, and there is no need to add ac signal injection circuits, costly response measurement, and analysis circuits/devices. In practical battery-powered systems, a power converter is usually used to interface the battery with the load for voltage/current regulation purposes. In this paper, through the control of the power converter and duty-cycle perturbation, the ac impedance of the battery can be determined. The proposed method provides a low-cost and practical solution for the online measurement of the ac impedance of batteries. Moreover, the proposed method can be either continuously or periodically performed without interrupting the normal operation of the battery system and the power converter. In addition, this paper provides an example where the obtained impedance data are utilized for online state-of-charge estimation of lithium-ion batteries. The proposed online impedance measurement method is validated by experiments conducted on a 2.6-Ah 18650-size lithium-ion battery interfaced to the load via a bidirectional dc-dc boost/buck converter.
Nudging Self-Control: A Smartphone Intervention of Temptation Anticipation and Goal Resolution Improves Everyday Goal Progress

Practitioners and researchers alike explore ways of increasing motivation. Whereas previous research mainly explores interventions that operate on people’s goals (e.g., via goal setting), we explore an intervention that operates on overcoming interfering temptations and nudging self-control success. We report an experiment testing a 1-week smartphone field intervention. Self-control involves anticipating and battling temptation; hence, we encouraged participants in a treatment condition to anticipate temptation (i.e., obstacles) for daily goal pursuit and to envision resolutions. They generated these responses for half the goals they listed daily. Participants in the treatment (anticipation resolution) condition reported more successful pursuit of the daily goals for which they listed obstacles and planned resolutions than for their other goals. We found no such difference between daily goals for participants in a control condition (no anticipation and no resolution) and for participants in an anticipationonly condition. The beneficial effect of listing obstacles and resolutions was further limited to goals that require self-control and are stronger for people with an assessment self-regulatory mode. Finally, participants in the treatment condition reported increased general happiness during the period of the intervention. We conclude that a simple intervention can improve self-control.
Modulation of Lipid Droplet Metabolism—A Potential Target for Therapeutic Intervention in Flaviviridae Infections

Lipid droplets (LDs) are endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-related dynamic organelles that store and regulate fatty acids and neutral lipids. They play a central role in cellular energy storage, lipid metabolism and cellular homeostasis. It has become evident that viruses have co-evolved in order to exploit host lipid metabolic pathways. This is especially characteristic of the Flaviviridae family, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) and several flaviviruses. Devoid of an appropriate lipid biosynthetic machinery of their own, these single-strand positive-sense RNA viruses can induce dramatic changes in host metabolic pathways to establish a favorable environment for viral multiplication and acquire essential components to facilitate their assembly and traffic. Here we have reviewed the current knowledge on the intracellular life cycle of those from the Flaviviridae family, with particular emphasis on HCV and dengue virus (DENV), and their association with the biosynthesis and metabolism of LDs, with the aim to identify potential antiviral targets for development of novel therapeutic interventions.
“Thank you God”: Religion and recovery from dual diagnosis among low-income African Americans

People with lived experience of dual diagnosis face specific challenges in that they have struggled with both severe mental illness and substance use disorder simultaneously. I conducted a 6-year ethnographic study with poor African Americans with lived experience of dual diagnosis in Washington, DC, to assess barriers and facilitators to recovery. In this paper, I analyze the relationship between religion and recovery. I set out to answer two research questions: (a) What is the self-identified role of religious commitment and activity in participants’ recovery from dual diagnosis? (b) What (if any) religious activities, notions, and resources are positively harnessed to enhance recovery? I found high levels of Christian religiosity among participants. Participants perceived their ongoing recovery as a process reliant upon (a) an intimate and personal relationship with God, and (b) engagement in certain core private religious activities, most notably prayer, reading of scripture, and listening to religiously inspired radio, television, or music. Participants’ religiosity was underpinned by a Pauline theology of transformation and reconciliation. Psychiatric services serving an African American clientele with lived experience of dual diagnosis may increase effectiveness by better harnessing client religiosity to assist recovery.
Effect of herpes simplex suppression on incidence of HIV among women in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND Infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is associated with an increased risk of acquiring infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study tested the hypothesis that HSV-2 suppressive therapy reduces the risk of HIV acquisition. METHODS Female workers at recreational facilities in northwestern Tanzania who were 16 to 35 years of age were interviewed and underwent serologic testing for HIV and HSV-2. We enrolled female workers who were HIV-seronegative and HSV-2-seropositive in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of suppressive treatment with acyclovir (400 mg twice daily). Participants attended mobile clinics every 3 months for a follow-up period of 12 to 30 months, depending on enrollment date. The primary outcome was the incidence of infection with HIV. We used a modified intention-to-treat analysis; data for participants who became pregnant were censored. Adherence to treatment was estimated by a tablet count at each visit. RESULTS A total of 821 participants were randomly assigned to receive acyclovir (400 participants) or placebo (421 participants); 679 (83%) completed follow-up. Mean follow-up for the acyclovir and placebo groups was 1.52 and 1.62 years, respectively. The incidence of HIV infection was 4.27 per 100 person-years (27 participants in the acyclovir group and 28 in the placebo group), and there was no overall effect of acyclovir on the incidence of HIV (rate ratio for the acyclovir group, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.64 to 1.83). The estimated median adherence was 90%. Genital HSV was detected in a similar proportion of participants in the two study groups at 6, 12, and 24 months. No serious adverse events were attributable to treatment with acyclovir. CONCLUSIONS These data show no evidence that acyclovir (400 mg twice daily) as HSV suppressive therapy decreases the incidence of infection with HIV. (Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN35385041 [controlled-trials.com].).
A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TO AMYLOID IN THE BRAINS OF PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

A monoclonal antibody that reacts with the amyloid in senile plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, was produced. The antigen was the crude amyloid protein (DAM, Pras et al. 1968) from the spleen of a patient with primary amyloidosis. The antibody crossreacts with DAM, but does not stain the amyloid of primary amyloidosis in tissue sections. The presence of a common antigenic site or sites in both the amyloid of senile plaques and amyloid of primary amyloidosis which react with this antibody is postulated.
Toward the Functional Analysis of the Dictyostelium discoideum Genome1

Abstract Dictyostelium discoideum is a useful model for molecular studies of cell biology and development. The 34-megabase Dictyostelium genome is currently being sequenced through the efforts of an international consortium. The genome is expected to encode 8–10,000 genes, including all those required for a free-living eukaryote capable of multicellular development. A complete description of the Dictyostelium genome will open the way toward the application of genome-based experimental approaches to studies of cell biology and development in this organism, and allow detailed physiological and evolutionary comparisons to other species.
Toward improved interpretation and theory building of African American male sexualities

This paper examined five challenges to clear understanding of African American male sexualities: incorrect assumptions of African American homogeneity; underemphases on developmental change, the contexts of sexual behaviors, and the meanings of sexual behaviors; and a lack of compelling theoretical grounding for African American sexualities. We outlined critical elements for effective theorizing and research about African American sexualities (e.g., multiple levels of analysis, examination of phenomenological meaning of sexuality, measurement of dynamic and developmental change) and analyzed candidate theories within sexual science (social exchange theories, symbolic interactionism, sexual scripting theory) in light of these elements. We suggest that a reorientation of sex research about African American men using these elements will result in improved understanding of African American sexualities in multiple contexts.
Practical Codebook Design for Limited Feedback Spatial Multiplexing

Codebook design for limited feedback Spatial Multiplexing commonly relies on the assumption of i.i. d. Rayleigh fading. It is well known that realistic MIMO channels may exhibit large correlation and/or dominant components and that antennas could be dual-polarized. Hence there is much appeal to come up with design criteria that can cope with such a large distribution of propagation conditions. In this paper, efficient ways to design high-performance and low-complexity codebooks for limited feedback-based Spatial Multiplexing evolving in various environments are provided. In particular, new design criteria are derived for transmit correlated and dual-polarized scenarios. Some of the codebook structures derived in this paper are components of the codebooks accepted in 3GPP LTE. Simulation examples are provided to confirm the proposed criteria.
Limitation of physical performance in a muscle fatiguing handgrip exercise is mediated by thalamo‐insular activity

In this study, we investigated central/supraspinal processes mediating cessation of a muscle fatiguing exercise. Fifteen male subjects performed 39 intermittent, isometric handgrip contractions (13 s on, 5–6 s off) with the dominant right hand while brain activation was assessed by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). An adaptive, partly stochastic protocol was designed such that in approximately 50% of the contraction trials the required force could not be held until the end of the trial (task failure trial). Trials performed in compliance with the force requirements (succeeded trial) were compared with task failure trials concerning neural activity during a small time window before task failure occurred. The data revealed significantly increased activation contralaterally in both the mid/anterior insular cortex and the thalamus during the investigated time window in the case of subsequent task failure. In accordance with other studies investigating sensations that alert the organism to urgent homeostatic imbalance such as air hunger, hunger for food, and pain, we assume that an increased thalamo‐insular activation in the context of a fatigue‐induced handgrip exercise could reflect increased homeostatic disturbance in the exercising muscle and may be of essential importance by mediating task failure to maintain the integrity of the organism. Hum Brain Mapp, 2011. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Workfare programmes and their impact on the labour market effectiveness of Construyendo Perú

This paper estimates the medium-term effects of the workfare programme Construyendo Peru implemented in Peru to support unemployed populations in situations of poverty and extreme poverty from 2007 to 2011. I find that the intervention helps raising employment and reducing inactivity for particular groups of beneficiaries, yet at a cost of locking participants in lower quality jobs (i.e. informal, paid below the poverty line and working excessive hours). Particularly, the programme was not able to improve the perspectives of lower- educated participants in terms of job quality (although it was in terms of employment) and exacerbated the perspectives of women and higher-educated individuals. The evaluation is carried out through a regression discontinuity approach, which exploits for the first time an interesting assignment rule the programme has at the district level, namely, that only districts above a certain level of poverty and development shortcomings are eligible to participate.
A New Protection Scheme for HVDC Converters Against DC-Side Faults With Current Suppression Capability

Two-level voltage-source converters and half-bridge modular multilevel converters are among the most popular types of HVDC converters. One of their serious drawbacks is their vulnerable nature to dc-side faults, since the freewheeling diodes act as a rectifier bridge and feed the dc faults. The severity of dc-side faults can be limited by connecting double thyristor switches across the semiconductor devices. By turning them on, the ac current contribution into the dc side is eliminated and the dc-link current will freely decay to zero. The main disadvantages of this method are: high dv/dt stresses across thyristors during normal conditions, and the absence of bypassing for the freewheeling diodes during dc faults since they are sharing the fault current with thyristors. This paper proposes combining and connecting the double thyristor switches across the ac output terminals of the HVDC converter. The proposed protection scheme provides advantages, such as lower dv/dt stresses and lower voltage rating of thyristor switches in addition to providing full segregation between the converter semiconductor devices and ac grid during dc-side faults. A simulation case study has been carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Aberrations and myopia

It has been suggested that high levels of axial aberration or specific patterns of peripheral refraction could play a role in myopia development. Possible mechanisms involving high levels of retinal image blur caused by axial aberrations include form deprivation through poor retinal image quality in distance vision, enhanced accommodative lags favouring compensatory eye growth, and an absence of adequate directional cues to guide emmetropization. In addition, in initially emmetropic eyes, hyperopia in the retinal periphery may result in local compensatory eye growth, which induces axial myopia. Evidence in support of these ideas is reviewed and it is concluded that, for any fixed pupil diameter, evidence for higher levels of axial aberration in myopes in comparison with other refractive groups is weak, making involvement of axial aberrations in myopization through image degradation at the fovea unlikely. If, however, some potential myopes had unusually large pupil diameters, their effective aberration levels and associated retinal blur would be larger than those of the rest of the population. There is stronger evidence in favour of differences in patterns of peripheral refraction in both potential and existing myopes, with myopes tending to show relative hyperopia in the periphery. These differences appear to be related to a more prolate eyeball shape. Longitudinal studies are required to confirm whether the retinal defocus associated with the peripheral hyperopia can cause patterns of eyeball growth which lead to axial myopia.
Defending Against Byzantine Attack in Cooperative Spectrum Sensing: Defense Reference and Performance Analysis

Cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) has been well recognized as an effective method to improve spectrum sensing accuracy and decrease sensing devices' complexity. However, spectrum sensing data falsification attack, also known as Byzantine attack, poses critical threats on the reliability of CSS. Due to lack of the ground-truth spectrum state, a reliable defense reference is vital to identify malicious behaviors and perform effective data fusion. However, the existing defense references have strong assumptions such as the attackers are in minority and/or a trusted node exists for data fusion. This observation motivates this paper to propose a novel defense reference, which jointly exploits the cognitive process of spectrum sensing and spectrum access in a closed-loop manner, to provide the defense scheme a solid basis without requiring any prior knowledge. Moreover, this paper analyzes the proposed reference's favorable reliability and high robustness over the state-of-the-art references, from two perspectives of spectrum sensing performance and the capability of identifying malicious sensors, respectively. Next, we design an optimal cooperative spectrum sensing scheme based on the proposed defense reference. Remarkably, from an information theoretic perspective, it is observed that based on the proposed reference, the information value of falsified reports is also exploited to further improve the global sensing performance. Furthermore, numerical simulations verify the proposed scheme's favorable performance, even in critical cases when malicious sensors are in majority.
Involvement of Both Dockerin Subdomains in Assembly of the Clostridium thermocellum Cellulosome

ABSTRACT Clostridium thermocellum produces an extracellular cellulase complex termed the cellulosome. It consists of a scaffolding protein, CipA, containing nine cohesin domains and a cellulose-binding domain, and at least 14 different enzymatic subunits, each containing a conserved duplicated sequence, or dockerin domain. The cohesin-dockerin interaction is responsible for the assembly of the catalytic subunits into the cellulosome structure. Each duplicated sequence of the dockerin domain contains a region bearing homology to the EF-hand calcium-binding motif. Two subdomains, each containing a putative calcium-binding motif, were constructed from the dockerin domain of CelS, a major cellulosomal catalytic subunit. These subdomains, called DS1 and DS2, were cloned by PCR and expressed in Escherichia coli. The binding of DS1 and DS2 to R3, the third cohesin domain of CipA, was analyzed by nondenaturing gel electrophoresis. A stable complex was formed only when R3 was combined with both DS1 and DS2, indicating that the two halves of the dockerin domain interact with each other and such interaction is required for effective binding of the dockerin domain to the cohesin domain.