Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Four Waves of Rebel Terror and September 11

Will we succeed this time? No one knows, but even a brief acquaintance with the history of terrorism should make us more sensitive to the difficulties ahead. To this end, I will briefly describe rebel terrorism in the last 135 years to show how deeply implanted it has become in modern culture. The discussion is divided into two sections. The first describes the four waves of modern terror, and the other focuses on the international ingredients in each. I will discuss the political events triggering each wave, but lack space to enumerate the great and persistent domestic impacts.
Outside the Unusual Cell Wall of the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1

In contrast to the extensively studied eukaryal and bacterial protein secretion systems, comparatively less is known about how and which proteins cross the archaeal cell membrane. To identify secreted proteins of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1 we used a proteomics approach to analyze the extracellular and cell surface protein fractions. The experimentally obtained data comprising 107 proteins were compared with the in silico predicted secretome. Because of the lack of signal peptide and cellular localization prediction tools specific for archaeal species, programs trained on eukaryotic and/or Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial signal peptide data sets were used. PSortB Gram-negative and Gram-positive analysis predicted 21 (1.2% of total ORFs) and 24 (1.4% of total ORFs) secreted proteins, respectively, from the entire A. pernix K1 proteome, 12 of which were experimentally identified in this work. Six additional proteins were predicted to follow non-classical secretion mechanisms using SecP algorithms. According to at least one of the two PSortB predictions, 48 proteins identified in the two fractions possess an unknown localization site. In addition, more than half of the proteins do not contain signal peptides recognized by current prediction programs. This suggests that known mechanisms only partly describe archaeal protein secretion. The most striking characteristic of the secretome was the high number of transport-related proteins identified from the ATP-binding cassette (ABC), tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic, ATPase, small conductance mechanosensitive ion channel (MscS), and dicarboxylate amino acid-cation symporter transporter families. In particular, identification of 21 solute-binding receptors of the ABC superfamily of the 24 predicted in silico confirms that ABC-mediated transport represents the most frequent strategy adopted by A. pernix for solute translocation across the cell membrane.
Academic Optimism in High Schools

This study contributes to the research foundation of academic optimism (Hoy, Tarter & Woolfolk Hoy, 2006) through incorporating the following three aims: to determine the relationships among academic emphasis, collective efficacy, faculty trust in students and parents, and academic optimism; to explore the relationship of academic optimism with state student achievement and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards; and to identify the practices in schools that demonstrate academic emphasis, faculty trust in students and parents, and collective efficacy that comprise academic optimism. Qualitative and quantitative methods were utilized to collect quantitative survey data and qualitative interview data on academic emphasis, collective efficacy, and faculty trust in students and parents from teachers and principals in one highand one lowerperforming Midwestern high school, as identified by state and federal standard mandates. This study provides an opportunity to describe how the construct of academic optimism, also linked to student achievement, translates into practice in the high school setting.
Lumbar Flexion and Dynamic EMG Among Persons with Single Level Disk Herniation Pre- and Postsurgery with Radicular Low-Back Pain

Wallbom AS, Geisser ME, Koch J, Haig AJ, Guido C, Hoff JT: Lumbar flexion and dynamic EMG among persons with single level disk herniation pre- and postsurgery with radicular low-back pain. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2009;88:302–307. Objective:The paraspinal muscles often fail to relax on forward flexion in many persons with low-back pain. The goal of this prospective study was to determine whether this abnormal lack of a flexion-relaxation phenomenon corrects after lumbar diskectomy for symptoms of radiculopathy with low-back pain. Design:Electromyographic testing was performed on 17 patients before and 30 days after lumbar diskectomy. Results:Although pain improved significantly (P < 0.05), the flexion-relaxation phenomenon did not improve. Conclusions:Failure to recover muscle relaxation while pain is relieved suggests another mechanism for paraspinal activity.
Effect of Clarithromycin on the Pharmacokinetics of Tolbutamide

The aim of this 2 x 2 randomized double blind crossover study was to evaluate the effect of a single dose of clarithromycin on the pharmacokinetics of tolbutamide in nine healthy male volunteers. Each volunteer received orally 500 mg of tolbutamide, or 500 mg of tolbutamide and 250 mg of clarithromycin. The washout period between the two treatments was 7 days. Serum levels of tolbutamide were determined by HPLC. Serum profiles were analysed using a non-compartmental model. Blood glucose levels were also estimated using a glucometer (Ames) and Glucostix (Bayer). There was approximately 20% increase in mean absorption rate constant and 26% increase in mean bioavailability of tolbutamide in the presence of clarithromycin. A hypoglycemic effect was reported upon co-administration of the two drugs.
Commercial extracellular matrix scaffolds for rotator cuff tendon repair. Biomechanical, biochemical, and cellular properties.

BACKGROUND We are not aware of any in vitro study comparing the biomechanical, biochemical, and cellular properties of commercial extracellular matrix materials marketed for rotator cuff tendon repair. In this study, the properties of GraftJacket, TissueMend, Restore, and CuffPatch were quantified and compared with each other. The elastic moduli were also compared with that of normal canine infraspinatus tendon. METHODS Samples were tested from different manufacturing lots of four materials: GraftJacket (ten lots), TissueMend (six), Restore (ten), and CuffPatch (six). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare thickness, stiffness, and modulus as well as hydroxyproline, chondroitin/dermatan sulfate glycosaminoglycan, hyaluronan, and DNA contents among these matrices. The moduli of the extracellular matrices were also compared with those of normal canine infraspinatus tendon. RESULTS All four extracellular matrices required 10% to 30% stretch before they began to carry substantial load. Their maximum moduli were realized in their linear region at 30% to 80% strain. The elastic moduli of all four commercial matrices were an order of magnitude lower than that of canine infraspinatus tendon. TissueMend had significantly higher DNA content than the other three matrices (p<0.0001), although both Restore and GraftJacket also had measurable amounts of DNA. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate chemical and mechanical differences among the four commercial extracellular matrices that we evaluated. Probably, the source (dermis or small intestine submucosa), species (human, porcine, or bovine), age of the donor (fetal or adult), and processing of these matrices all contribute to the unique biophysical properties of the delivered product. The biochemical composition of commercial extracellular matrices is similar to that of tendon. However, the elastic moduli of these materials are an order of magnitude lower than that of tendon, suggesting a limited mechanical role in augmentation of tendon repair.
A theory of political obligation : membership, commitment, and the bonds of society

I. A CENTRAL PROBLEM OF POLITICAL OBLIGATION 1. The problem 2. Obligations: initial points 3. In pursuit of political obligation 4. Actual contract theory: attractions 5. Actual contract theory: objections II. SOCIETIES, MEMBERSHIP, AND OBLIGATION 6. Social groups: starting small 7. Joint commitment and obligation 8. Societies as plural subjects III. A THEORY OF POLITICAL OBLIGATION 9. Political societies 10. Reconsidering actual contract theory 11. The plural subject theory of political obligation 12. Summary and prospect
Regulation of Conidiation by Light in Aspergillus nidulans

Light regulates several aspects of the biology of many organisms, including the balance between asexual and sexual development in some fungi. To understand how light regulates fungal development at the molecular level we have used Aspergillus nidulans as a model. We have performed a genome-wide expression analysis that has allowed us to identify >400 genes upregulated and >100 genes downregulated by light in developmentally competent mycelium. Among the upregulated genes were genes required for the regulation of asexual development, one of the major biological responses to light in A. nidulans, which is a pathway controlled by the master regulatory gene brlA. The expression of brlA, like conidiation, is induced by light. A detailed analysis of brlA light regulation revealed increased expression after short exposures with a maximum after 60 min of light followed by photoadaptation with longer light exposures. In addition to brlA, genes flbA–C and fluG are also light regulated, and flbA–C are required for the correct light-dependent regulation of the upstream regulator fluG. We have found that light induction of brlA required the photoreceptor complex composed of a phytochrome FphA, and the white-collar homologs LreA and LreB, and the fluffy genes flbA–C. We propose that the activation of regulatory genes by light is the key event in the activation of asexual development by light in A. nidulans.
Genome Sequence of Weissella ceti NC36, an Emerging Pathogen of Farmed Rainbow Trout in the United States

ABSTRACT Novel Weissella sp. bacteria have recently been reported to be associated with disease outbreaks in cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at commercial farms in China, Brazil, and the United States. Here we present the first genome sequence of this novel Weissella species, isolated from the southeastern United States.
Budget Deficit and Economic Growth in Sri Lanka: An Econometric Dynamic Analysis

Budget deficit is a debating word in developing countries; it maintains a relationship with economic growth of countries in different aspects. The objective of this study was to test the dynamic relationship between the budget deficit and the economic growth of Sri Lanka using annual time series data from 1959 to 2013.To test this objective, the budget deficit of Sri Lanka was used as main independent variable and the gross domestic product in constant price was utilized as dependent variable. The exports earnings, exchange rate, inflation rate were used supportive independent variables of this study. The Johansen cointegration technique and Vector Error Correction Model were employed to test the long and short run dynamic relationship between the budget deficit and the economic growth of Sri Lanka. This study found that all variables were cointegrated at 1 st difference form. In the meantime the budget deficit and economic growth of Sri Lanka had preserved a longrun dynamic relationship during the study period but no shortrun dynamic relationship. In addition, the budget deficit had positive relationship with economic growth of Sri Lanka.
Simultaneous Nonrigid Registration, Segmentation, and Tumor Detection in MRI Guided Cervical Cancer Radiation Therapy

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for the treatment of cancer enables accurate placement of radiation dose on the cancerous region. However, the deformation of soft tissue during the course of treatment, such as in cervical cancer, presents significant challenges for the delineation of the target volume and other structures of interest. Furthermore, the presence and regression of pathologies such as tumors may violate registration constraints and cause registration errors. In this paper, automatic segmentation, nonrigid registration and tumor detection in cervical magnetic resonance (MR) data are addressed simultaneously using a unified Bayesian framework. The proposed novel method can generate a tumor probability map while progressively identifying the boundary of an organ of interest based on the achieved nonrigid transformation. The method is able to handle the challenges of significant tumor regression and its effect on surrounding tissues. The new method was compared to various currently existing algorithms on a set of 36 MR data from six patients, each patient has six T2-weighted MR cervical images. The results show that the proposed approach achieves an accuracy comparable to manual segmentation and it significantly outperforms the existing registration algorithms. In addition, the tumor detection result generated by the proposed method has a high agreement with manual delineation by a qualified clinician.
2.6 Class-0: A highly linear class of power amplifiers in 0.13μm CMOS for WCDMA/LTE applications

Integration of RF transceiver blocks along with the digital signal processing part in CMOS is becoming the trend in the semiconductor industry for lower cost and smaller form factor. Nowadays, the interest is even growing towards implementing the RF PA in CMOS technology. Cost reduction, diversifying means of fabrication and the addition of performance enhancement circuitry are the main reasons behind this growing interest. However, implementing RF PAs for 3G/4G standards in CMOS is quite challenging: The low breakdown voltage of nanoscale CMOS causes a ruggedness problem at typical average output power (Pavg) levels of 26dBm or more. In the paper, power-combining techniques were used to reach PA output power (Pout) of 33dBm. However, amplification of signals with high peak-to-average-power-ratio (PAPR) requires also a high degree of linearity. Significant AM-PM distortions caused by the voltage-dependent parasitics are a fundamental problem in CMOS PAs. Thus far, predistortion is used to meet EVM requirements. To overcome these challenges, this work presents a new class of operation, termed as Class-O, demonstrated by the design and the measurement of a single-stage PA implemented in 0. 13μm CMOS and operating from a 3.3V supply.
High Bacterial Diversity in Permanently Cold Marine Sediments

ABSTRACT A 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) clone library from permanently cold marine sediments was established. Screening 353 clones by dot blot hybridization with group-specific oligonucleotide probes suggested a predominance of sequences related to bacteria of the sulfur cycle (43.4% potential sulfate reducers). Within this fraction, the major cluster (19.0%) was affiliated with Desulfotalea sp. and other closely related psychrophilic sulfate reducers isolated from the same habitat. The cloned sequences showed between 93 and 100% similarity to these bacteria. Two additional groups were frequently encountered: 13% of the clones were related to Desulfuromonas palmitatis, and a second group was affiliated withMyxobacteria spp. and Bdellovibrio spp. Many clones (18.1%) belonged to the γ subclass of the classProteobacteria and were closest to symbiotic or free-living sulfur oxidizers. Probe target groups were further characterized by amplified rDNA restriction analysis to determine diversity within the groups and within the clone library. Rarefaction analysis suggested that the total diversity assessed by 16S rDNA analysis was very high in these permanently cold sediments and was only partially revealed by screening of 353 clones.
Maximum clique-based resource allocation in device-to-device communications

Device-to-Device communication (D2D) integrated in cellular networks emerges as a new trend in response to notable rise in traffic demand. Resource allocation is one of the important challenges in deployment of D2D networks. In this paper, we formulate an optimization problem for optimal resource allocation and then propose a novel algorithm namely maximum clique based resource allocation (MCRA) for improving the spectral reuse based on graph theoretic concept of maximum clique. Practical application of D2D communications requires each node to receive and transmit signals during the communication process. We have considered this issue in constructing the interference graph and mathematical formulations in our system model. We have proposed an efficient algorithm called binary code-based maximum clique detector (BCMD) to find the maximum clique solution with reduced complexity in interference graphs. Finally, to mitigate the overall interference and complexity of the problem, a two level resource allocation algorithm (TLRA) is suggested. The results demonstrate that substantial gains are achieved in terms of sum rate, time and computational complexity compared to the existing approaches in literature.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the Use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Quit Ratios in Lifetime Smokers Ages 25 to 44 Years

We examined racial/ethnic variations in the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and quit ratios among Caucasian, African American, Asian, and Latino lifetime smokers ages 25 to 44 years. We conducted cross-sectional analyses using data from individuals (n = 27,031) screened for enrollment in the Collaborative Study of the Genetics of Nicotine Dependence. Participants were randomly sampled from three Midwestern metropolitan areas using Health Maintenance Organization membership lists in Detroit, MI and Minneapolis, MN and a driver’s license registry in St. Louis, MO from March 2003 to August 2005. A telephone survey collected information on smoking history, previous quit attempts, and sociodemographic characteristics. Among lifetime smokers (n = 9,216), univariate analysis indicated that African Americans (22%) and Latinos (22%) were significantly less likely to report having ever used NRT for smoking cessation than Caucasians (31%). Asians (22%) also reported lower rates of using NRT than Caucasians, but this difference was marginally significant (P = 0.06). These disparities persisted in multivariate analysis for African Americans [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.76; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.63-0.91; P < 0.01] but not for Latinos (adjusted OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.54-1.06; P = 0.11) or Asians (adjusted OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.60-1.60; P = 0.95). As measured by the quit ratio, African Americans (35%) were less likely to have quit smoking than Caucasians (52%). This disparity persisted in multivariate logistic regression (adjusted OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.56-0.78; P < 0.001). Asian and Latino smokers were as likely as Caucasians to report smoking cessation. Future prospective studies are needed to assess whether lower utilization of cessation treatments such as NRT contribute to the observed disparity in quit ratios for African Americans. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(7):1640–7)
Comparative Regional Integration and Regionalism

Since the mid-1980s there has been an explosion of various forms of regionalist projects on a global scale. The widening and deepening of the European Union (EU) is the most pervasive example, but regionalism is also made visible through the revitalization or expansion of many other regional projects around the world, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur). Today’s regionalism is closely linked with the shifting nature of global politics and the intensification of globalization. Regionalism is characterized by the involvement of almost all governments in the world, but it also involves a rich variety of non-state actors, resulting in multiplicities of formal and informal regional governance and regional networks in most issue areas. This pluralism and multidimensionality of contemporary regionalism gives rise to a number of new puzzles and challenges for comparative politics. Cumulative knowledge has grown within the study of regionalism and regional integration during the last two decades, especially on aspects of European integration, the institutional design of regional organizations, the problems of collective action on the regional level, and the relationship between globalization and regionalism. However, the challenges and weaknesses in the study of regionalism and regional integration are primarily related to the fragmented nature of this research field, in particular the weak debate around comparative analysis. Despite a growing number of specific comparisons of selected aspects of regionalism (especially regarding regional institutions and the role of power) in selected regions (particularly in the Triad: Europe, East Asia and North America), there is virtually no systematic debate regarding the fundamentals of comparison, such as ‘what to compare’, ‘how to compare’ or ‘why compare’. Consequently, the purpose of this chapter is to contribute to the general discussion about ‘the problem of comparison’ in the study of regionalism and regional integration. It does not attempt a detailed empirical comparison of a set of pre-defined 26
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of the effect of aerobic vs. resistance exercise training on visceral fat

It is increasingly recognized that the location of excess adiposity, particularly increased deposition of visceral adipose tissue (VAT), is important when determining the adverse health effects of overweight and obesity. Exercise therapy is an integral component of obesity management, but the most potent exercise prescription for VAT benefit is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the independent and synergistic effects of aerobic exercise (AEx) and progressive resistance training (PRT) and to directly compare the efficacy of AEx and PRT for beneficial VAT modulation. A systematic review and meta‐analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of exercise interventions on VAT content/volume in overweight and obese adults. Relevant databases were searched to November 2010. Included studies were randomized controlled designs in which AEx or PRT in isolation or combination were employed for 4 weeks or more in adult humans, where computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used for quantification of VAT pre‐ and post‐intervention. Of the 12196 studies from the initial search, 35 were included. After removal of outliers, there was a significant pooled effect size (ES) for the comparison between AEx therapy and control (−0.33, 95% CI: −0.52 to −0.14; P < 0.01) but not for the comparison between PRT therapy and control (0.09, 95% CI: −0.17 to −0.36; P = 0.49). Of the available nine studies which directly compared AEx with PRT, the pooled ES did not reach statistical significance (ES = 0.23, 95% CI: −0.02 to 0.50; P = 0.07 favouring AEx). The pooled ES did not reach statistical significance for interventions that combined AEx and PRT therapy vs. control (−0.28, 95% CI: −0.69 to 0.14; P = 0.19), for which only seven studies were available. These data suggest that aerobic exercise is central for exercise programmes aimed at reducing VAT, and that aerobic exercise below current recommendations for overweight/obesity management may be sufficient for beneficial VAT modification. Further investigation is needed regarding the efficacy and feasibility of multi‐modal training as a means of reducing VAT.
Adaptive Dynamical Programming control with combination of off-line and on-line training

This paper studies off-line control and on-line control based on Adaptive Dynamical Programming and proposes an optimal adaptive algorithm with the combination of off-line and on-line training; The method using off-line value iteration algorithm gets off-line opitical controller, then using on-line policy iteration algorithm of Q learning improves the off-line opitical controller. Simulation results show that the proposed approach is effective.