Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current and Emerging Themes in the Structural Analysis of Viral RNA Genomes: Applications for the Development of Novel Therapeutic Drugs

RNA molecules assume different roles in many different biological processes. This functional diversity is intimately related to RNA folding. In recent years, advances in the field of structure analysis by high- throughput methodologies and the development of novel potent bioinformatic tools have enabled the first structural maps of the eukaryotic transcriptome and the further establishment of novel function-structure relationships. This important progress has been of special relevance in the field of molecular virology. Viral genomes are compact entities that require overlapping coding levels to bear all the genetic information required for viral propagation. This is achieved by the acquisition of functional RNA domains, structurally conserved encoding units that perform essential roles for the consecution of the viral cycle. Interfering with the activity of these structural elements offers a potential means of treating viral infections, such as that caused by the hepatitis C virus, HCV. This review summarizes major achievements in the development of emerging methodologies for the analysis of RNA folding and their application to the study of the HCV genome structure. It will also examine the progress toward the design of novel antiviral compounds based in nucleic acids able to interfere with the folding of functional RNA domains.
The Relationship between CRM Strategies Stage on Competitive Advantage: An Analytical Perspective

Due to the fast growth of the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) strategies revolution, the organizations begin thinking of how to develop their process. In this way, CRM is a business strategy, which aims at attraction, acquiring, withholding and expanding the relationship with the customers. In this present business situation, the Jordanian telecommunication organizations have become highly competitive environment. For this reason, CRM strategies stage and competitive advantage is widely used in this competitive environment. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a model defines how the CRM strategies stage would achieve the competitive advantage. This paper adapts the quantitative research approach by using the survey strategy, which is conducted by a questionnaire collected from 170 people working in the operational position of Jordanian telecommunication organizations. The main emphasis was focused on the concept of CRM strategies stage (attraction, acquiring, withholding and expanding), and the competitive advantage.
Comparison of a Riverine Waterborne Transport and Dispersion Model and Yellowstone River Dye Releases

Abstract : As part of a multi-phase study, we have continued evaluating the predictive capabilities and performance of the waterborne transport and dispersion model known as the Incident Command Tool for Protecting Drinking Water (ICWater). The overarching goal of the study is to provide DTRA with information on the predictive reliability of this software package. In this second-year report, we compare ICWater simulation results to field measurements collected by the USGS during a series of dye experiments conducted in the Yellowstone River. The key conclusions arising from the study are that the velocity-flow expression used in ICWater causes the model to predict late plume arrival times and over predict peak concentration levels. It is suggested that the velocity-flow equation be improved or that real-time velocity be used instead of a velocity inferred from flow. Recommendations for future work are also discussed.
Manufacturing and Characterization of Chitin Nanowhisker/Polyolefin Nanocomposites

This thesis discusses the potential large scale production of polymer nanocomposites using polypropylene and high density polyethylene with chitin nanowhiskers (CNW). Fabrication of the nanocomposites with and without compatibilization were prepared over a range of CNW loading through melt compounding. The processing techniques tested included direct melt compounding, and a two step masterbatch dilution process. Three studies were investigated to build an understanding of the composite structure-property relationship based on morphological, thermal, water barrier, mechanical, and rheological properties. The addition of CNW and compatibilizer provided mechanical reinforcement and improvements in water barrier. However, the CNW significantly affected the crystallinities of the composites, which impacted its overall properties. Finally, the masterbatch diluted composites maintained good mechanical and water barrier compared to the neat polymer, but the directly compounded composites were still better. Therefore, further optimization of this process is required to maximize CNW dispersion, which also greatly affected the composite properties.
Rapid characterization of microscopic two-level systems using Landau-Zener transitions in a superconducting qubit

We demonstrate a fast method to detect microscopic two-level systems in a superconducting phase qubit. By monitoring the population leak after sweeping the qubit bias flux, we are able to measure the two-level systems that are coupled with the qubit. Compared with the traditional method that detects two-level systems by energy spectroscopy, our method is faster and more sensitive. This method supplies a useful tool to investigate two-level systems in solid-state qubits.
Studies on the Genotoxicity Behavior of Silver Nanoparticles in the Presence of Heavy Metal Cadmium Chloride in Mice

Incredible rapid growth in the nanoparticles applications and development increases the daily human exposure to them but humans are exposed to many other pollutants in addition to nanoparticles that forced us to evaluate the effect of heavy metal cadmium chloride (CdCl2) coinjection on silver nanoparticles induced genotoxic risk in this study. Mice were injected into the abdominal cavity with single dose of Ag nanoparticles (20, 41, and 82 mg/kg) or CdCl2 (1.5 mg/kg) either separately or together simultaneously and sacrificed 24 hours later. CdCl2 cotreatment enhanced the induced dose-dependent sperm abnormality by Ag nanoparticles different doses as shown by the statistical significant decreases in both sperm concentration and motility and increases in the frequency of abnormal sperms and also potentiated the Ag nanoparticles induced chromosomal and DNA damage indicated by the statistical significant elevations in the frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) and DNA damage levels. Moreover, statistical elevations in malondialdehyde level and reductions in catalase activity were observed after CdCl2 coinjection with Ag nanoparticles compared with Ag nanoparticles treated groupsź values. Ag nanoparticles induced sperm abnormality, clastogenicity, and genotoxicity were potentiated by heavy metal cadmium coinjection that threatens the human life and increases silver nanoparticles genotoxic risks.
On the spectral gap of random quantum channels

In this work, we prove a lower bound on the difference between the first and second singular values of quantum channels induced by random isometries, that is tight in the scaling of the number of Kraus operators. This allows us to give an upper bound on the difference between the first and second largest (in modulus) eigenvalues of random channels with same large input and output dimensions for finite number of Kraus operators $k\geq 169$. Moreover, we show that these random quantum channels are quantum expanders, answering a question posed by Hastings. As an application, we show that ground states of infinite 1D spin chains, which are well-approximated by matrix product states, fulfill a principle of maximum entropy.
Feeding currents of particle-attached nanoflagellates—a novel mechanism for aggregation of submicron particles

In this study we present several lines of evidence suggesting a 'non-ingestive' mecha- nism by which nanoflagellates attached to sinking or suspended particles can enhance aggregation and enlargement of smaller particles in marine environments. Using epifluorescence microscopy, we observed the adhesion of model particles (0.5 µm fluorescent latex beads) in the feeding current from a particle-attached flagellate, Paraphysomonas imperforata, to the aggregate colonized by the fla- gellate. Particle counter measurements showed a significant increase in larger aggregates occurring only in the presence of living P. imperforata. The transfer rate of model particles to larger aggregates was determined by a flow cytometric technique and was observed to be higher in the presence of the attached flagellate than in free-living ones. In nutrient-enriched coastal seawaters, the transfer of model submicron particles to large particles (5 to 20 µm) was significantly reduced with the addition of eucaryotic and respiratory inhibitors (thiuram, NaN3). Ingestion of the latex beads by nanoflagel- lates did not explain the observed transfer rates of beads to larger particles. Collectively, the feeding current of attached flagellates, which has been ignored before as a mechanism for particle aggrega- tion in marine environments, accelerates the attachment of submicron particles to larger particles. This process might be important in coastal productive waters, where both attached flagellates and submicron particles are abundant.
A New Link-Based Single Tree Building Algorithm for Shortest Path Searching in an Urban Road Transportation Network

The shortest-path searching algorithm must not only find a global solution to the destination, but also solve a turn penalty problem (TPP) in an urban road transportation network (URTN). Although the Dijkstra algorithm (DA) as a representative node-based algorithm secures a global solution to the shortest path search (SPS) in the URTN by visiting all the possible paths to the destination, the DA does not solve the TPP and the slow execution speed problem (SEP) because it must search for the temporary minimum cost node. Potts and Oliver solved the TPP by modifying the visiting unit from a node to the link type of a tree-building algorithm like the DA. The Multi Tree Building Algorithm (MTBA), classified as a representative Link Based Algorithm (LBA), does not extricate the SEP because the MTBA must search many of the origin and destination links as well as the candidate links in order to find the SPS. In this paper, we propose a new Link-Based Single Tree Building Algorithm in order to reduce the SEP of the MTBA by applying the breaking rule to the LBA and also prove its usefulness by comparing the proposed with other algorithms such as the node-based DA and the link-based MTBA for the error rates and execution speeds.
Evaluation of Experts’ Preferences for Selection of Suitable Industrialized Building Systems

Experts‟ preferences for building material selection are a largely under-explored part of a material research. This study evaluates the experts‟ preferences to identify the suitable industrialized building system for application in Addis Ababa. Ten industrialized building systems were considered as alternatives for comparison. These systems have been used in a housing development in different parts of the world. A relevant literature review and contextual analysis were conducted. An analytical hierarchy process and an Expert Choice Comparion platform were employed as a research technique and tool to evaluate the professionals‟ level of preferences with regard to the housing systems. The findings revealed the most important preferential attributes and the suitable industrialized building systems for an application in housing development. The decision criteria and the experts‟ preferential method used in this study can help decision-makers and housing developers in developing countries make effective evaluations and decisions.
Boundedness of the successive minima on arithmetic varieties

In this paper, we study the asymptotic behavior of the successive minima associated with high powers of a Hermitian invertible sheaf on an arithmetic variety. As a consequence, we prove that the arithmetic χ̂-volume function, which is introduced by Yuan, is homogeneous, birationally invariant, and continuous on the arithmetic Picard group. We also obtain the arithmetic Hilbert-Samuel formula for vertically nef Hermitian invertible sheaves.
Voltage-gated sodium channel α-subunits Nav1.1, Nav1.2, and Nav1.6 in the distal mammalian retina

Voltage-gated Na + channels (Na v channels) are members of a large superfamily of ion channel proteins in membranes of cells that are characteristically involved in electrical signaling [1,2]. The opening of these channels in response to membrane depolarization causes an influx of Na + ions to the cell that is essential for initiating and propagating sodiumdependent action potentials in neurons and muscle cells [3]. However, the functional role of Na v channels is not restricted to mediating rapid changes in membrane polarization and action potentials. Recent studies demonstrate that Na v channels have wider physiological and developmental roles. For example, Na v channels can load cells with Na + ions during slow inactivation and thereby modulate intracellular Na + homeotasis [4]. Na v channel interactions with tenascin and receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase-suggest these channels also can participate in cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions (for review see [5]). The absence of a specific Na v α-subunit (Na v 1.6) during development leads to deficits in photoreceptor function as evidenced by reduced amplitudes of the electroretinogram (ERG) waves originating from photoreceptors as well retinal postreceptoral neurons [6]. Na v channels are composed of a large (about 260 kDa) pore-forming α-subunit (Figure 1A) associated with one or more smaller α-subunits [1,2,7]. The Na v α-subunit is obligatory for channel function [1,2,5]. There are ten known Na v αsubunit isoforms (designated Na v 1.1 through Na v 1.9 and Na x ), each encoded by a separate gene [1,8,9]; (gene nomenclature is provided in Table 1). Na v 1.1, Na v 1.2, Na v 1.3, and Na v 1.6 are highly expressed in the central nervous system, including the retina [8-15]. These Na v 1 α-subunits are all sensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX) blockade, a property that has been used to demonstrate the presence of functional Na v channels in various retinal neurons (summarized in Figure 1B). The TTX sensitivity of retinal ganglion cell action potentials is well known ©2007 Molecular Vision
A Collaborative Filtering Algorithm Based on Double Clustering and User Trust

A collaborative filtering algorithm based on double clustering and user trust to solve data sparse and cold start problem is present. This algorithm uses user-clustering matrix to measure the user’s degree of similarity, which could reduce the dimension of the user-item matrix. On the other hand it uses user level trust to perform predictions in rating predicting step. The experiments results show that this method could relieve the sparsity problem and improve the accuracy of the prediction results. Introduction With the rapid progress of computer technology, electronic commerce and social network are more and more popular in society. Massive product information and knowledge appears in Internet and brings great convenience to people’s work and life. But too much information causes information overload problem. That is to say, people can’t find useful information from huge access information. So recommender system emerges as the times require. Since Gold Berg provided the first recommender system Tapestry. More and more researchers have devoted to the study field. Now collaborative filtering technology is widely applied in electronic commerce. The traditional collaborative filtering schemes are based on user-item matrix. But some statistics show that the items commented by user are often no more than 2 percent of all the product items in an electronic commerce website [2]. This is the sparsity problem which makes the recommendation unreliable. On the other hand collaborative filtering algorithm needs the records of the users’ historical behavior. But there are no records for a new user so that no recommendations can be given which is the cold start problem. To solve these problems some scholars integrated clustering methods with traditional collaborative filtering algorithms [2-4]. Other scholars began to apply user trust to recommend algorithm [5-9]. Although these methods can relieve the sparsity and improve the accuracy of predictions to some extent, they still needs user-item matrix to measure the similarity. So the sparsity problem can’t be solved well. In this paper a collaborative filtering algorithm based on double clustering and trust is present. First we perform clustering to the items. Then we definite the interest measure and integrate it with user trust to get the mixed similarity between users. On the other hand in the clustering step considering the authority of expert users we take them as the clustering center. Next in prediction step we use user level trust to predict the score because different user’s score should be given different trust degree. Our algorithm can reduce the user-item matrix and the search band of the nearest neighbors. So it can gain higher efficiency and reduce the affection of sparsity. At the same time it can overcome the difficulty of the cold start problem to a considerable degree.
The Effectiveness of Strategic Relationship Marketing: Exploring Relationship Quality towards Customer Loyalty

This study examines customer satisfaction, trust, control mutuality and communication as determinants of relationship quality and customer loyalty in relationship marketing. The study focuses on Malaysian telecommunication industry in the business-to-customer context. The structural equation modelling technique is used to empirically test the proposed hypotheses based on the sample size of 405 customers collected by a questionnaire survey. Trust had the greatest positive influence on relationship quality, followed by satisfaction. Subsequently, there was no significant effect of control mutuality and communication on relationship quality. Customer loyalty was significantly affected by relationship quality. The contribution of this paper is twofold. From a theoretical perspective, the social exchange theory is validated and it offers both a conceptual foundation and empirical-based evaluation of customer loyalty through the context of relationship quality. In the practical perspective, the findings proposed useful information to the telecommunication service providers in developing more effective relationship marketing strategies to build better relationship quality and customer loyalty.
The effect of nitrogen incorporation in boron carbide and iridium thin films

Thin film coated mirrors enable pioneering observations of X-rays and soft gamma rays. The performance of the reflective mirrors is key in expanding knowledge of the hot and energetic Universe. A critical part of maturing the optics technology is firstly, to establish a smooth surface and interface of the selected materials and, secondly, to obtain an in-depth understanding of the contamination in the thin films and ultimately, to ensure long-term stability. The aim of this study is to investigate the chemical composition, roughness and stability of boron carbide and iridium thin films and the effects of nitrogen incorporation.
A novel image retrieval based on rectangular spatial histograms of visual words

Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) provides a solution to search the images that are similar to a query image. From last few years, the bag-of-visual-words (BoVW) model gained significance and improved the performance of CBIR. In a standard BoVW model, an image is represented as an order-less histogram of visual words, by ignoring the spatial layout of the image. The spatial layout carries significant information that can enhance the image retrieval accuracy. In this paper, we present a novel method of image representation, which is based on the construction of histograms over two rectangular regions of an image. Division of the image into two rectangular regions at the time of construction of histograms adds the spatial information to the BoVW model. The proposed image representation uses separate visual words for upper and lower rectangular regions of an image. The experimental analysis carriedout on two image datasets validates that the proposed image representation based on the division of an image into histograms of rectangles increases the performance of image retrieval.
Environmental and Biotic Controls on the Invasion of the Exotic Shrub Elaeagnus umbellata in a Michigan Forest

Distinguishing the differences between invasive species and those of the invaded native community is important to understand both the mechanisms and the potential impacts of invasion. In this study, I ask how the effects of environmental and biotic factors on growth of fourteen native species in a southeast Michigan forest differ from the exotic shrub, Elaeagnus umbellata. Primarily focused on an understory woody plant community, I expect light availability to be a driving factor of growth. To test this hypothesis for the invasive shrub, I carried out a transplant experiment of seedlings of the invasive plant along light gradients. In a complementary analysis, I use growth data from forest censuses carried out five years apart to study how growth and invasibility of the exotic shrub species relate to the invaded community. From the experimental work, I found that seedling growth of the invasive shrub is strongly affected by soil water content and initial size, whereas light provides a marginal effect, contradicting common assumptions on how this species responds to resources. Results from the analysis of the census data show that the invasive shrub’s adult growth is highly variable in response to environmental parameters, but is controlled by small-scale biotic interactions, like competition for space or limited resources. The model outcomes distinguish the growth of the invasive species from those of a native shade-intolerant tree and a native shade tolerant shrub in response to light availability. Predictions from the empirical model suggest an increased competitive ability under high light conditions of the invasive shrub over the native shrub (Hamamelis virginiana), but not over the shade-intolerant tree (Sassafras albidum). When
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli strains isolated from broiler chickens affected by colibacillosis in Setif

In Setif East Algeria, one hundred and eighty Escherichia coli strains were isolated frombroiler chickens with colibacillosis and were examined for susceptibility to antimicrobials of veterinary significance. In vitro antibiotic activities of 12 antibiotic substances against the isolates were determined by disc diffusion test. Antibiogram revealed a high level of resistance to enrofloxacin (72.2%), neomycin (75%), trimethoprim-sulfmethoxazole (82.2%), ampicillin (84.5%) and amoxicillin (87.8%), nalidixic acid (96.7%) and doxycycline (98.3%). There were moderate levels of resistance to chloramphenicol (45.6%) and streptomycin (66.1%). There were low levels of resistance to nitrofurantoin (18.9%), colistin (5.5) and gentamicin (5.5%). All strains were multi-drug resistant and more than half (56.1%) of the isolates were resistant to eight antibiotics. Thus, 60 antibiotic resistant patterns in E. coli strains were isolated, of which 13 were present significantly. These findings suggest the need for the introduction of surveillance programs in Algeria to monitor antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic bacteria that could be potentially transmitted to humans from animal food. Key words: Escherichia coli, antibioresistance, colibacillosis, Algeria, poultry