Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chloroplast ribosomal intron of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: in vitro self‐splicing, DNA endonuclease activity and in vivo mobility.

All chloroplast 23S ribosomal RNA genes of the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contain an 888 bp group I intron with an internal open reading frame (ORF). A precursor RNA encompassing the intron with its 5′ and 3′ flanking sequences was shown to self‐splice both during in vitro transcription and upon incubation of the isolated pre‐RNA under self‐splicing conditions. Expression of the internal ORF in Escherichia coli in the presence of a plasmid containing a cDNA corresponding to the intronless form of the 23S rRNA gene resulted in specific cleavage of the cDNA at or close to the exon junction sequence. To test whether this ORF‐encoded double‐strand DNA endonuclease is involved in intron mobility in vivo, the same ribosomal cDNA was stably integrated into the C. reinhardtii chloroplast genome using particle gun mediated transformation. All the transformants with the cDNA integrated at the expected site in the chloroplast genome had the intron precisely inserted at the artificial exon junction site. These experiments demonstrate that the chloroplast ribosomal intron of C. reinhardtii behaves as a ribozyme in vitro and also as a mobile genetic element in vivo provided a target site is present.
Talking circles: Northern Plains tribes American Indian women's views of cancer as a health issue.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this research was to understand the cultural meanings of cancer among American Indian women from Northern Plains tribes living in western South Dakota and their experiential view of breast and cervical cancer screening. DESIGN AND SAMPLE Using an exploratory design, a purposive sample of 28 women, 35-75 years of age, were recruited into three Talking Circles. MEASUREMENT Talking Circle and focus group methodology, combined with Affonso's Focus Groups Analytic Schema, were used to generate contextual data sets including thematic findings. RESULTS Ten themes emerged indicating interrelationships between cultural traditions and health structures of care. The themes provided a unique perspective for conceptualizing women's experiences with breast and cervical cancer screening. CONCLUSIONS Incorporating women's cultural experiences into screening services is necessary to address clinical and policy challenges for reducing breast and cervical cancer mortality among American Indian women. Findings from this research will be used to guide a future study investigating breast-screening patterns related to mammography adherence and development of interventions specific to American Indian women.
Recurrent template matching: A novel approach for cardiac trauma detection in vehicle collision victims

The most widespread injury to be suffered by automobile drivers during a road accident is cardiac contusion (also known as ‘cardiac trauma’). When it comes to such a wound, the final stage is generally a heart failure, diminishing any scope of survival of the victim. Using simple correlation coefficient techniques, an ECG (electrocardiograph) template-matching algorithm can be utilized in diagnosing cardiac trauma symptoms and set off a remote alarm that can notify the victim's family. The location of the automobile may also be communicated using GPS and cellular connection. Non-intrusive bio-potential sensors may be integrated within automobile seats to obtain the ECG of the driver constantly during the journey. The software that is used in the diagnosis and generation of the alert signal may be developed as an application for smart phones. In our paper, we have used MATLAB as the basic software for the analysis of cardiac trauma ECG signals using a recurrent template matching technique.
Destination Image Versus Risk Perception

The literature on destination image and risk perception studies was reviewed to provide tourism researchers with a summary of the key cognitive attributes identified in both literatures. A content analysis was conducted, and the main findings revealed an overlap between the attributes assessing each concept in terms of cognition. This is due to the fact that image studies tend to describe the attributes of tourism destinations positively, whereas risk studies tend to adopt the negative version of them. Theoretical implications and suggestions for future research studies are discussed.
Cerivastatin improves survival of mice with lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis.

Development of severe sepsis is thought to result from the overproduction of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and nitric oxide. Recently, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, which are antihypercholesterolemic agents, have been reported to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of cytokines and nitric oxide in vitro. In this study, we tested these effects in vivo. After LPS administration (15 mg/kg i.p.) to CD-1 mice, serum levels of both TNF-alpha and IL-1beta transiently increased, and peaked at 2 h. After the peak responses of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, serum levels of nitrite and nitrate increased until at least 8 h. Pretreatment of the mice with cerivastatin (20 mg/kg i.p. 12 and 1 h before LPS injection) reduced serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta at 2 h, and nitrite and nitrate at 8 h, by 93, 60, and 44%, respectively. In this model of sepsis, cerivastatin significantly (P =.016) improved the rate of 7-day survival from 26.7 to 73.3%. These results cast new light on the usefulness of cerivastatin in preventing severe sepsis.
Vacuum-ultraviolet circular dichroism spectroscopy of DNA: a valuable tool to elucidate topology and electronic coupling in DNA.

Circular dichroism (CD) is a powerful technique to obtain information on electronic transitions and has been used extensively for studies on DNA. Most experiments are done in the UV region but new information is often revealed from extending the wavelength region down into the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region. Such experiments are most easily carried out with synchrotron radiation (SR) light sources that provide large photon fluxes. Here we provide a summary of the SRCD data taken on different DNA strands with emphasis on results from our own laboratory within the last five years. (1-3) Signal intensities in the VUV are often significantly larger than those in the UV, and the electronic coupling between bases may increase with excitation energy. CD spectroscopy is particularly useful for investigating the extent of electronic coupling within a strand, i.e., the degree of delocalisation of the excited-state electronic wavefunction. The spatial extent of the wavefunction may be limited to just one base or it extends over two or more bases in a stack or between bases on different strands. (4,5) The actual character of the electronically excited state is linked to base composition and sequence as well as DNA folding motif (A-, B-, Z-DNA, triplexes, quadruplexes, etc.). The latter depends on experimental conditions such as solution acidity, temperature, ionic strength, and solvent.
A Semi-Automatic Image Registration Scheme based on a Noval Asymmetrical Corner Detector (ACD)

In this paper, a novel Asymmetrical Corner Detector (ACD) algorithm based on the auto-correlation is presented. Based on the study of the fact that asymmetrical corner points are the most common reality in remotely sensed imagery data, the ACD is designed to detect interest points more favourable to slightly asymmetrical points rather than ideal symmetrical points. The experimentation results using images taken by different sensors indicate that the ACD has obtained excellent performance in terms of point localization and computational efficiency. It is more capable of selecting high quality ground control points (GCPs) than some well-established corner detectors, e.g. the Harris Corner Detector [1]. A semi-automatic image co-registration scheme is then proposed, which employed the ACD algorithm to extract evenly distributed GCPs across the overlapped area in the reference image.
Improved Wi-Fi RSSI Measurement for Indoor Localization

Indoor localization based on Wi-Fi received signal strength indication (RSSI) has the advantage of low cost and easy implementation compared with a range of other localization approaches. However, Wi-Fi RSSI suffers from multipath interference in indoor dynamic environments, resulting in significant errors in RSSI observations. To handle this issue, a number of different methods have been proposed in the literature, including the mean method, Kalman filter algorithm, and the particle filter algorithm. It is observed that these existing methods may not perform sufficiently well in ever-changing dynamic indoor environments. This paper presents an algorithm to improve RSSI observations by using the average of a number of selected maximum RSSI observations. Smoothness index is employed to evaluate the quality of RSSI so as to select an appropriate number of RSSI observations. Experiments were conducted in four rooms and a corridor within an office building and the results demonstrate that the proposed method considerably outperforms the existing algorithms in terms of positioning accuracy, which is defined as the cumulative distribution function of position error.
Multiscale Contour Extraction Using a Level Set Method in Optical Satellite Images

This letter presents a novel coarse-to-fine level set method for contour extraction in optical satellite images. To distinguish objects from a background, the undecimated wavelet transform is firstly adopted to extract image features, and a homogeneity metric is defined to measure the variation of the features inside and outside contours. In addition, the weight distribution ratio is proposed to adaptively tune the relative weight of the features. Based on the homogeneity metric and the weight distribution ratio, a novel energy functional is developed to model a contour extraction problem, and in order to reduce the computation burden, a coarse-to-fine scheme is applied to progressively extract contours in finer scale, during which a contour position constraint is introduced to limit contours evolving in a small space around the candidate contours extracted in coarser scale. Extensive experiments have been carried out on optical satellite images to validate the proposed method.
A tracking control scheme for leader based multi-agent consensus for discrete-time case

A new leader-guarding consensus problem for heterogeneous multi-agent system with switching topology in discrete-time domain is investigated. First, a new discrete-time model of heterogeneous and mobile multi-agent system with a motile leader and variable topology is established, where the location information of the active leader is completely known but the acceleration information may not be measured. A neighbor-based pinning control law and a neighbor-based state-estimation rule are proposed for solving the consensus problem. Such consensus protocols under the requirement of virtual connected guarantee that each follower-agent can estimate the leaderpsilas velocity and then track it in a bounded area if the acceleration input of the leader is unknown, where the tracking error can be estimated based on Lyapunov approach.
REGULATION OF ADOLESCENT RAT INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL INDUCIBLE NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE EXPRESSION IN ENDOTOXIN TOLERANCE: MODULATION OF SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION

Endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) tolerance is a state of induced hyporesponsiveness to endotoxin or LPS characterized by alterations in the release of inflammatory mediators. As the gut is both a source of infection and target of injury, we tested the hypothesis that alterations in intestinal epithelial signal transduction would account for the acquisition of endotoxin tolerance as defined by decreased induction of a key mediator of gut injury, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Rats (15 days of age) were injected with saline or LPS (1 μg/g i.p.). Tissue was harvested after 1, 4, or 6 h for assessment of signaling and iNOS expression. Other animals received a second dose of LPS 1 to 7 days after the initial dose. Selected animals received the p38 inhibitor, SB203580 (10 μg/g), which was co-administered with the first dose of LPS. Induction of iNOS mRNA and protein was significantly attenuated after repeated LPS administration. Epithelial cells from LPS-tolerant rats showed a minimal level of iNOS expression by immunohistochemistry. The down-regulation of intestinal iNOS was not gender dependent. p38 inhibition enhanced tolerance rather than blocking it. LPS-mediated activation of NF-κB was attenuated in a manner consistent with a primary role in the induction of tolerance. Endotoxin tolerance can be demonstrated in intestinal epithelial cells using an in vivo model. Modulation of NF-κB signaling may be key in the down-regulation of LPS effect seen in tolerance.
Implementation of discharge management for geriatric patients at risk of readmission or institutionalization.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether implementation of discharge management by trained social workers or nurses reduces hospital readmissions and institutionalizations of geriatric patients in a real-world setting. DESIGN Quasi-experimental design. SETTING Six general hospitals in Belgium. PARTICIPANTS A representative sample of 824 patients, 355 of whom were assigned to the experimental group receiving comprehensive discharge management and 469 to the control group receiving usual care. Inclusion criteria were patients admitted to a geriatric, rehabilitation, or internal medicine ward, not residing in a nursing home, and showing risk of readmission or institutionalization on admission in the hospital. INTERVENTION In-hospital discharge planning according to a case management protocol allowing for adjustment to participating hospitals' case mix and patients' and families' specific needs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Hospital readmission within 15 and 90 days post discharge; institutionalization at discharge and within 15 and 90 days post discharge. RESULTS Discharge management resulted in fewer institutionalizations (n = 53; 14.9%) compared with usual care (n = 130; 23.7%) (adjusted odds ratio = 0.47; CI 95% = 0.31-0.70). Readmission rates between the intervention and usual care group were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS This implementation project showed that a discharge planning intervention can reduce institutionalization rates of elderly patients in real-life settings.
Advanced information technology: transforming service innovation and design

ABSTRACT This research explores the role of advanced information technologies at the ‘fuzzy’ front-end of service innovation and design. Service researchers have been exploring the application of technology to services for a while, however there has been little attention paid to the use of technology at the front-end of service innovation and design. Research suggests that advanced information technologies should be useful in research and development for services; but how this may occur has not been explored. Bringing together design thinking and the technology–organization–environment framework for technology adoption this research develops propositions for research to expose how technology can advance and transform service innovation and design. Theoretical and practical research questions are offered to guide inquiry in this emerging research space.
Successful uterine transplantation in the mouse: pregnancy and post-natal development of offspring.

BACKGROUND Uterine transplantation could serve as a tool in studies of the physiology of implantation/pregnancy, and is also a possible future treatment for patients with absolute uterine infertility. Here, the first live-born offspring in any uterine transplantation model is reported. METHODS A syngeneic mouse model with a uterus transplanted, by end-to-side aorta/vena cava vascular anastomoses, alongside the native uterus was used. The cervix was attached to a cutaneous stoma. Pregnancy rate and offspring (birth weight, growth and fertility) was evaluated after blastocyst transfer to the native and the grafted uterus of transplanted mice and to controls. RESULTS Pregnancy rates were comparable in the grafted uterus (8/12 animals became pregnant) and the native uterus (9/12 pregnant) of transplanted animals and controls (8/13 pregnant). In a separate set of animals, the native uterus was removed at transplantation to exclude influences from the native uterus on the pregnancy potential of the graft; two of four animals became pregnant after blastocyst transfer. The weights/lengths of fetuses (gestational day 18) and gestational lengths were similar in all groups. Offspring were delivered and the growth trajectories (up to 8 weeks) of offspring delivered from grafted or native uteri of transplanted mice were similar as compared with controls, and all were fertile. The second-generation offspring from transplanted animals were all fertile with normal birth weights. CONCLUSIONS These observations document the capacity of a transplanted uterus to harbour pregnancies to term, and reveal that offspring from a transplanted uterus develop to normal fertile adults.
Application of OmpF nanochannel forming protein in polynucleotide sequence recognition

Recognition of the sequence of human genome sequence is vital to address malfunctions occurring at molecular, cellular and tissue levels and requires a great deal of time, cost and efforts. Thus, various synthetic and natural pores were considered to fabricate high‐throughput systems capable to fulfill the task in an efficient manner. Here, voltage gating OmpF nanochannel, whose structure is known at an atomic level, was used to recognize and differentiate between polynucleotide primers through voltage clamp technique. Our results showed that poly(T) occasionally blocked the channel at both polarities, while poly(C) and poly(G) obstructed it only at positive polarity. The channel was blocked at potential differences of as low as 80 mV in the presence of poly(T). The conductance of channel decreased in the presence of poly(C) and poly(G) by 61 and 5% respectively. Analysis of the number of events showed that poly(T) caused more closing events at higher voltages, while poly(G) and poly(C) induced it at lower voltages. Application of the hazard function as a statistical parameter and analysis of event closing times in various voltages demonstrated the most efficient differentiation at 60 mV. The results of practical and theoretical approaches presented here show that OmpF porin channel possesses the structural and dynamic characteristics required to be considered as a biosensor capable for continuous polynucleotide sequencing. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Impact of a Computer-Based Activity Program on the Social Functioning of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

BACKGROUND Problems with social functioning are a major area of difficulty for children with autism. Such problems have the potential to exert a negative influence on several aspects of the children's functioning, including their ability to access education. This study looked to examine if a computer-based activity program could improve the social functioning of these children. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using a pooled subject design, 100 children with autistic spectrum disorder were randomly allocated, controlling where possible for age and gender, to either an intervention or a control group. The children in the intervention group were encouraged to use the Nintendo (Kyoto, Japan) Wii™ and the software package "Mario & Sonic at the Olympics" in addition to their routine school physical education classes over a 9-month period. The control group attended only the routine physical education classes. RESULTS After 1 year, analysis of the changes in the scores of teacher-completed measures of social functioning showed that boys in the intervention group had made statistically significant improvement in their functioning when compared with controls. The number of girls in the study was too small for any change to reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS This type of intervention appears to have potential as a mechanism to produce improvement in the social functioning, at least of boys, as part of a physical education program.
The role of technology gap in the trade of Poland. Panel estimation in the gravity framework

The objective of this paper is the analysis of the role of technology gap in explaining the aggregate intensity of Polish exports over the period 1999–2011 in a panel of all possible Polish trade partners. We construct a basic export model in a gravity framework and further augmented by incorporating various measures of technological gap. We find it to play a substantial role in determining the intensity of Polish trade relations. In general, Poland exports more to countries at the similar level of technological sophistication. We test the robustness of the results and find that the impact of technology gap varies with respect to different groups of partners depending on their technological level.
Novel Golgi to vacuole delivery pathway in yeast: identification of a sorting determinant and required transport component

More than 40 vacuolar protein sorting (vps) mutants have been identified which secrete proenzyme forms of soluble vacuolar hydrolases to the cell surface. A subset of these mutants has been found to show selective defects in the sorting of two vacuolar membrane proteins. Under non‐permissive conditions, vps45tsf (SEC1 homolog) and pep12/vps6tsf (endosomal t‐SNARE) mutants efficiently sort alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to the vacuole while multiple soluble vacuolar proteins and the membrane protein carboxypeptidase yscS (CPS) are no longer delivered to the vacuole. Vacuolar localization of ALP in these mutants does not require transport to the plasma membrane followed by endocytic uptake, as double mutants of pep12tsf and vps45tsf with sec1 and end3 sort and mature ALP at the non‐permissive temperature. Given the demonstrated role of t‐SNAREs such as Pep12p in transport vesicle recognition, our results indicate that ALP and CPS are packaged into distinct transport intermediates. Consistent with ALP following an alternative route to the vacuole, isolation of a vps41tsf mutant revealed that at non‐permissive temperature ALP is mislocalized while vacuolar delivery of CPS and CPY is maintained. A series of domain‐swapping experiments was used to define the sorting signal that directs selective packaging and transport of ALP. Our data demonstrate that the amino‐terminal 16 amino acid portion of the ALP cytoplasmic tail domain contains a vacuolar sorting signal which is responsible for the active recognition, packaging and transport of ALP from the Golgi to the vacuole via a novel delivery pathway.
Eddy current image normalization in ndt of aluminum plates

This paper presents a normalization method that allows the comparison between data taken from different eddy current experiments. The experimental data were acquired by scanning an aluminum plate containing a machined long crack. Results show that with two data sets acquired for orthogonal directions of sensor orientation it is possible to preview the data for any other measurement direction.