Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and expression of peptides with antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhimurium

We showed previously that insertion of Synechocystis Δ12‐desaturase in salmonella's membrane alters membrane physical state (MPS), followed by the expression of stress genes causing inability to survive within murine macrophages (MΦ). Recently, we showed that expression of one membrane lipid domain (MLD) of Δ12‐desaturase (ORF200) interferes with salmonella MPS, causing loss of virulence in mice and immunoprotection. Here, we postulate that an α‐antimicrobial peptide (α‐AMP) intercalates within membrane lipids, and depending on its amino acid sequence, it does so within specific key sensors of MLD. In this study, we choose as target for a putative synthetic AMP, PhoP/PhoQ, a sensor that responds to low Mg2+ concentration. We synthesised a modified DNA fragment coding for an amino acid sequence (NUF) similar to that fragment and expressed it in salmonella typhimurium. We showed that the pattern of gene expression controlled by PhoP/PhoQ highlights dysregulation of pathways involving phospholipids biosynthesis, stress proteins and genes coding for antigens. RNA‐Seq of strain expressing ORF200 showed that the pattern of those genes is also altered here. Accumulation of NUF conferred temporary immunoprotection. This represents a powerful procedure to address synthetic α‐AMPs to a specific MLD generating live non‐virulent bacterial strains.
Psychological changes arising from an Antarctic stay: systematic overview

Long-term stays in extreme environments, such as Polar Regions, may cause significant changes in the health and well-being of individuals. A systematic overview aimed to map studies about the psychological effects on Antarctic expeditioners. The reviewed data were categorized and divided into two thematic axes: Negative Effects, resulting from harmful psychophysiological variations caused by exposure to the polar stressors, which may present seasonal symptom patterns, altering cognitive performance, mood and interpersonal relationships; and Positive Effects, such as salutogenic results arising from successful adaption to environmental adversities. Due to the great deal of evidence, it is suggested that protection factors should be promoted through preventive approaches, such as psychological training and support in order to reduce symptoms and generate satisfactory adaptation to Antarctica.
A Time-Domain Macromodel Based on the Frequency-Domain Moment Method for the Field-to-Wire Coupling

A time-domain macromodel method is proposed in this paper to deal with the field-to-wire coupling. The proposed method is equivalent to the frequency-domain moment method, but the size is greatly reduced. The extraction of the macromodel is actually a process of full-wave simulation. Once extracted, however, the proposed model could be repeatedly applied to arbitrary incident waves and terminal loads, including the nonlinear ones. The required computation time and storage are much less than making another full-wave simulation. Based on the small perturbation assumption, the method could also deal with the wires with small geometric uncertainties. Therefore, the proposed model is well applicable to the statistical analysis of the field coupling to the wires of the arbitrary shape, an extension to the previous statistical methods mainly based on the transmission line theory.
Estimation of ground enhancing compound performance using Artificial Neural Network

Grounding system constitutes an essential part of the protection system of electrical installations and power systems against lightning and fault currents. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that engineers ensure as low values for grounding resistance as possible, during the designing phase as well as the lifecycle of the grounding system. A widely used technique of reducing the grounding resistance value, in case of high soil resistivity values, or lack of adequate space for the installation of grounding systems, is the use of ground enhancing compounds. This paper presents a methodology, for the evaluation of grounding resistance, under various meteorological conditions, of grounding systems embedded in natural soil as well as in ground enhancing compounds, using Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The ANN training is based on field measurements that have been performed in Greece during the last year. As a matter of fact, this is a first step to develop a new method for estimating variations of grounding resistance value.
Patient-centered Medical Home, Make Room for Your New Neighbor: The Person-centered Wellness Home™

Both the chronic care model (CCM) and the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) offer important lessons that can help shape future models of care. The CCM was developed at the Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound’s MacColl Institute for Healthcare Innovation in 1996 after the Institute identified those multicomponent practice changes that led to improved health outcomes. The current PCMH model of care emerged shortly thereafter in the early 2000s; although its roots date back to the 1960s and 1970s in the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization, respectively. Both the CCM and PCMH models emphasize building a patient’s behavioral self-efficacy.
University of Groningen Enzymatic degradation of granular potato starch by Microbacterium aurum strain B 8 .

Microbacterium aurum strain B8.A was isolated from the sludge of a potato starch-processing factory on the basis of its ability to use granular starch as carbonand energy source. Extracellular enzymes hydrolyzing granular starch were detected in the growth medium of M. aurum B8.A, while the type strain M. aurum DSMZ 8600 produced very little amylase activity, and hence was unable to degrade granular starch. The strain B8.A extracellular enzyme fraction degraded wheat, tapioca and potato starch at 37 °C, well below the gelatinization temperature of these starches. Starch granules of potato were hydrolyzed more slowly than of wheat and tapioca, probably due to structural differences and/or surface area effects. Partial hydrolysis of starch granules by extracellular enzymes of strain B8.A resulted in large holes of irregular sizes in case of wheat and tapioca and many smaller pores of relatively homogeneous size in case of potato. The strain B8.A extracellular amylolytic system produced mainly maltotriose and maltose from both granular and soluble starch substrates; also, larger maltooligosaccharides were formed after growth of strain B8.A in rich medium. Zymogram analysis confirmed that a different set of amylolytic enzymes was present depending on the growth conditions ofM. aurum B8.A. Some of these enzymes could be partly purified by binding to starch granules.
Early Gastric Cancer: Clinical Behavior and Treatment Options. Results of an Italian Multicenter Study on Behalf of the Italian Gastric Cancer Research Group (GIRCG).

BACKGROUND Early gastric cancer (EGC) generally has a good prognosis. However, the current definition of EGC includes various subgroups of patients with different pathological characteristics and different prognoses, some of whom have aggressive disease with a biological behavior similar to that of advanced carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively evaluated 1,074 patients with EGC who had undergone surgery between 1982 and 2009. The cumulative incidence function of cancer-specific mortality and competing mortality were estimated using the Fine and Gray method. RESULTS The median follow-up period was 193 months (range 1-324). Five hundred and sixty-two (52.3%) patients died, 96 (8.9%) from EGC. The 5-, 10-, and 15-year cumulative incidence rates for mortality of all causes were 20.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 18.0-22.9), 37.1% (95% CI 34.7-40.7), and 52.6% (95% CI 49.1-56.0), respectively; for cancer-specific mortality, 6.0% (95% CI 4.5-7.6), 9.9% (95% CI 7.9-11.9), and 11.1% (95% CI 8.8-13.3), respectively; and for mortality of other causes, 14.4% (95% CI 12.1-16.6), 27.2% (95% CI 24.2-30.2), and 41.5% (95% CI 38.1-43.3), respectively. A significant increase in the risk of cancer-specific mortality was observed for lesions >2 cm (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.44, 95% CI 1.07-1.94), Pen A-type disease (adjusted HR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.15-2.61), and node-positive cancers (adjusted HR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.61-3.21). CONCLUSION Patients with EGC with tumors >2 cm, Pen A-type disease according to Kodama, or lymph node metastases show a poorer prognosis and an increased risk of cancer-specific mortality. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Early gastric cancer generally has a good prognosis, and some patients can be treated radically by endoscopic resection. However, the current definition of early gastric cancer includes subgroups of patients with an aggressive disease. In particular, patients with lymph node metastases and Pen A-type tumors according to Kodama's classification need a more invasive treatment, such as subtotal or total gastrectomy with an extended D2 lymphadenectomy, plus eventual adjuvant chemotherapy.
Effective capacity analysis for underlay cognitive satellite-terrestrial networks

In this paper, we consider a cognitive satellite-terrestrial network where the satellite communication operates in the microwave frequency bands allocated to terrestrial networks in an underlay mode. Taking the statistical delay quality-of-service (QoS) requirements into account, we investigate the effective capacity of the satellite network while satisfying interference-power limitations imposed by terrestrial networks. Specifically, the primary terrestrial transmitters that would result in aggregate interference at the satellite receiver are modeled as points of a Poisson point process (PPP). By characterizing the aggregate interference as a gamma distribution, we obtain a closed-form expression for the effective capacity of the secondary satellite network. Finally, simulation results are provided to not only demonstrate the validity of the theoretical results, but also show the effects of system parameters such as delay exponent of satellite communications, interference-power limitations of terrestrial networks, and intensity of terrestrial transmitters on the performance of the satellite network.
Assessing the ability of the 14C projection‐age method to constrain the circulation of the past in a 3‐D ocean model

Radiocarbon differences between benthic and planktonic foraminifera (B‐P ages) and radiocarbon projection ages are both used to determine changes of the past ocean circulation rate. A global 3‐D ocean circulation model with a constant modern ocean circulation is used to study which method is less influenced by atmospheric Δ14C variations. Three factors cause uncertainties: first, the long equilibration time of the ocean after atmospheric Δ14C changes; second, different mixing processes in the ocean, which cause an ocean response of smaller amplitude than the atmospheric forcing; and third, the unknown source region and corresponding initial surface 14C reservoir age of subsurface waters. The model suggests that B‐P ages and projection ages have lower uncertainties the closer they are to deepwater formation zones. In the North Atlantic the B‐P age method is less influenced by atmospheric Δ14C variations than the projection‐age method. Projections ages vary less in the Pacific as long as atmospheric Δ14C decreases linearly. A more irregular atmospheric Δ14C evolution leads to age variations of similar magnitude with both methods. On the basis of the model experiment, we suggest a potential improvement of the projection‐age method.
Hybrid Accelerated Optimization for Speech Recognition

Optimization procedure is crucial to achieve desirable performance for speech recognition based on deep neural networks (DNNs). Conventionally, DNNs are trained by using mini-batch stochastic gradient descent (SGD) which is stable but prone to be trapped into local optimum. A recent work based on Nesterov’s accelerated gradient descent (NAG) algorithm is developed by merging the current momentum information into correction of SGD updating. NAG less likely jumps into local minimum so that convergence rate is improved. In general, optimization based on SGD is more stable while that based on NAG is faster and more accurate. This study aims to boost the performance of speech recognition by combining complimentary SGD and NAG. A new hybrid optimization is proposed by integrating the SGD with momentum and the NAG by using an interpolation scheme which is continuously run in each mini-batch according to the change rate of cost function in consecutive two learning epochs. Tradeoff between two algorithms can be balanced for mini-batch optimization. Experiments on speech recognition using CUSENT and Aurora-4 show the effectiveness of the hybrid accelerated optimization in DNN acoustic model.
Balance and walking in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy: multiperspective assessment.

BACKGROUND In the Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), the association of ankle muscle impairment with knee, hip and abdominal weakness causes complex alterations of static (postural) and dynamic (walking) balance, increasing the risk of recurrent falls. Stereophotogrammetric system and body-worn gyroscopes were used to focus on locomotor capacity and upper body movements in FSHD patients respectively. No data have been reported about static balance (plantar pressure and stabilometric parameters) and dynamic balance (spatio-temporal parameters during walking) in patients with FSHD. Moreover it is not known if the balance involvement influences disability and quality of life (QoL) of these patients. AIM The aim of this study is to quantitatively assess static and dynamic balance in FSHD patients and their influence on disability and QoL. DESIGN Case control-study. SETTING Outpatient Rehabilitation Department. POPULATION Sixteen FSHD patients were compared with 16 matched healthy subjects. METHODS A baropodometric platform was used to measure plantar pressure and centre of pressure in stance (static evaluation), and spatio-temporal parameters during walking (dynamic evaluation). These quantitative results in FSHD patients were also correlated with validated clinical (Clinical Severity Scale), performance (10m and 2 min Walking Test), disability (Berg Balance Scale, Rivermead Mobility Index) and quality of life (QoL) measures (SF-36, NASS). RESULTS The patients moved the plantar pressure forward from hindfoot to forefoot. Static balance was significantly reduced in patients compared with healthy subjects. Dynamic evaluation of walking showed a significant reduction of velocity and step length in the patients, and a significant increase in step width. Dynamic and static parameters were significantly related to a reduction of 10 mWT performance while only dynamic parameters were strongly related to disability and QoL. CONCLUSION FSHD patients present an abnormal static and dynamic balance and they show compensation strategies to avoid falling . The involvement of the dynamic balance worsens the physical aspects of QoL and induces disability. The involvement of static balance induces a reduction of the performance in brief distances. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT The balance training should be considered in the rehabilitation program of FSHD patients; the compensation strategies adopted by these patients should be considered in the ankle foot orthosis treatment. The static and dynamic balance assessment in FSHD patients can be used in natural history studies.
Complex-coefficient systems in control

Complex-valued dynamics can be used for modeling rotationally invariant two-input two-output systems and bandpass systems when they are considered in the baseband. In a few instances, control design has been done in the complex domain, which facilitated analysis and synthesis. While previous work has been application specific, we will discuss more generally how complex valued dynamics arise, basic properties of these systems, revisit some classic control theoretic results in the complex setting, and discuss two novel examples of control design in the complex domain — accelerator cavity field control and feedback linearization of RF amplifiers.
NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES OF EDIBLE BIRD NEST Zainab Hamzah

Edible bird nest (EBN) is a dried glutinous secretion from the salivary glands of several different swiftlet species. It is widely consumed as a health food due to its high beneficial effects to human health and has been considered to be one of the most precious food items by the Chinese for thousands of years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional properties of clean and unclean EBN collected from the swiftlet species Aerodramus fuciphagus at several geographical locations : Malaysia (Perlis and Langkawi), Indonesia (Java, Balikpapan and Kalimantan), Thailand and Philippines from swiftlet species. The nest type from Langkawi is of the cave type while the others are of the house nest type. Analytical results showed protein content as the most abundant component in EBN ranging from 59.8-65.4%, followed by carbohydrate content ranging from 8.5%-16.4%. EBN from Philippines showed highest percentage of carbohydrate content. Fat content determined using Soxtec method showed the lowest percentage ranging from 0.01%-0.07%. The study showed EBN with a high concentration of nitrite and nitrate, particularly EBN of the cave nest type collected from Langkawi followed by EBN of Java and Balik Papan. EBN from Kalimantan and Perlis were devoid of nitrite and nitrate. There is no significant differences in moisture and ash content (5.58-13.88%) among all EBN from different locations. This study profiled the nutritional properties of EBN from different geographical locations indicating a high Journal of Asian Scientific Research Special Issue: 3rd International Malaysia-Ireland Joint Symposium on Engineering, Science and Business journal homepage: http://aessweb.com/journal-detail.php? id=5003 Journal of Asian Scientific Research, 2013, 3(6):600-607 601 protein content in all EBN followed by a declining trend of carbohydrate, moisture, ash and fat contents.
Time-resolved 2-million-year-old supernova activity discovered in Earth’s microfossil record

Significance Massive stars, which terminate their evolution in a cataclysmic explosion called a type-II supernova, are the nuclear engines of galactic nucleosynthesis. Among the elemental species known to be produced in these stars, the radioisotope 60Fe stands out: This radioisotope has no natural, terrestrial production mechanisms; thus, a detection of 60Fe atoms within terrestrial reservoirs is proof for the direct deposition of supernova material within our solar system. We report, in this work, the direct detection of live 60Fe atoms in biologically produced nanocrystals of magnetite, which we selectively extracted from two Pacific Ocean sediment cores. We find that the arrival of supernova material on Earth coincides with the lower Pleistocene boundary (2.7 Ma) and that it terminates around 1.7 Ma. Massive stars (M≳10 M⊙), which terminate their evolution as core-collapse supernovae, are theoretically predicted to eject >10−5M⊙ of the radioisotope 60Fe (half-life 2.61 Ma). If such an event occurs sufficiently close to our solar system, traces of the supernova debris could be deposited on Earth. Herein, we report a time-resolved 60Fe signal residing, at least partially, in a biogenic reservoir. Using accelerator mass spectrometry, this signal was found through the direct detection of live 60Fe atoms contained within secondary iron oxides, among which are magnetofossils, the fossilized chains of magnetite crystals produced by magnetotactic bacteria. The magnetofossils were chemically extracted from two Pacific Ocean sediment drill cores. Our results show that the 60Fe signal onset occurs around 2.6 Ma to 2.8 Ma, near the lower Pleistocene boundary, terminates around 1.7 Ma, and peaks at about 2.2 Ma.
Validation of the Alexithymia Construct: A Measurement-Based Approach *

Alexithymia is a hypothetical personality construct that has been associated with a variety of medical and psychiatric disorders. This article reviews a program of research evaluating the validity of the construct using a measurement-based, construct validation approach. For this purpose the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) was developed. In a series of studies the TAS demonstrated internal consistency, good test-retest reliability, and a stable factor structure theoretically congruent with the alexithymia construct. In separate tests of construct validity, the TAS correlated in a theoretically meaningful fashion with measures of other constructs. Criterion validity was supported by a study in which the TAS was able to discriminate between behavioural medicine out-patients designated as alexithymic and those designated as nonalexithymic on the basis of objectively rated structured interviews. In a normal adult sample, TAS scores were not related to sociodemographic variables or intelligence. These results provide considerable empirical support for the validity of the alexithymia construct. In addition, the TAS appears to be a psychometrically sound measure of alexithymia that may prove useful in testing the construct with psychiatric and medical patient populations.
Spine morphogenesis in newborn granule cells is differentially regulated in the outer and middle molecular layers

New neurons are continuously added to the hippocampus of adult mammals. Their survival and integration into the circuitry are highly dependent on experience. Here we show that mushroom spine formation in newborn granule cells was modulated by experience and that dendritic segments in different areas of the molecular layer were differentially regulated. Specifically, spines of new neurons in the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus were more readily influenced by nonspatial features in the living environment. Those in the middle molecular layer were more likely to be influenced by the size of the living environment. Therefore, the activity of cortical inputs into newborn granule cells may be reflected in the formation of mushroom spines in different dendritic segments in the molecular layer. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:2756–2766, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hidden Markov Models predict foreign exchange rate

This paper presents the prediction Thai baht by using Hidden Markov Models (HMM) with which the prediction model uses four factors, dollar index, interest rate, inflation rate and economic growth. The main idea of this work is a technique of encoding four factors into one observation sequence to train HMM. One result of prediction data will present four factors after decoding. The experiment is done using the data-by-day from 2002 to 2013 and showed that the technique has the mean percentage error of 0.167% to predict Thai currency exchange.