Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Occurrence, structure, and evolution of nitric oxide synthase–like proteins in the plant kingdom

Nitric oxide synthase is conserved in some species of algae, but not in land plants. Gloss In animals, nitric oxide (NO) is mainly produced by NO synthases (NOSes), a family of enzymes partly conserved in bacteria. In contrast, how NO is produced in plants is poorly understood, and whether these organisms have proteins homologous to animal NOSes is unknown. In this Review, with three figures, two tables, and 60 references, we describe a search for the presence of NOSes in over 1300 species of land plants and algae, which showed that NOSes are present in a few algal species but appear to not be conserved in land plants. Thus, land plants seem to have evolved mechanisms for NO synthesis different from those present in animals. These mechanisms rely mainly on nitrite reduction. Nitric oxide (NO) signaling regulates various physiological processes in both animals and plants. In animals, NO synthesis is mainly catalyzed by NO synthase (NOS) enzymes. Although NOS-like activities that are sensitive to mammalian NOS inhibitors have been detected in plant extracts, few bona fide plant NOS enzymes have been identified. We searched the data set produced by the 1000 Plants (1KP) international consortium for the presence of transcripts encoding NOS-like proteins in over 1000 species of land plants and algae. We also searched for genes encoding NOS-like enzymes in 24 publicly available algal genomes. We identified no typical NOS sequences in 1087 sequenced transcriptomes of land plants. In contrast, we identified NOS-like sequences in 15 of the 265 algal species analyzed. Even if the presence of NOS enzymes assembled from multipolypeptides in plants cannot be conclusively discarded, the emerging data suggest that, instead of generating NO with evolutionarily conserved NOS enzymes, land plants have evolved finely regulated nitrate assimilation and reduction processes to synthesize NO through a mechanism different than that in animals.
Hybrid Multilevel Converter With Cascaded H-bridge Cells for HVDC Applications: Operating Principle and Scalability

Hybrid multilevel converters are contemplated in an attempt to optimize the performance of voltage source converters in terms of magnitude of semiconductor losses and converter footprint, and to achieve additional features such as dc short circuit proof, which is essential for a high integrity multiterminal HVDC grid. Therefore, this paper considers an emerging hybrid cascaded converter that offers the dc side short circuit proof feature at reduced loss and footprint compared to the existing multilevel and other hybrid converters. Its operating principle, modulation, and capacitor voltage balancing strategies are described in detail. Furthermore, hybrid converter scalability to high voltage applications is investigated. The validity of the modulation and capacitor voltage strategy presented are confirmed using simulation and experimentation. The hybrid cascaded converter is extendable to a large number of cells, making it applicable to high voltage applications, and operation is independent of modulation index and power factor. On these ground, the converter is expected to be applicable for both real and reactive power applications.
A hybrid recommendation technique optimized by dimension reduction

Providing high quality recommendations is significant for e-commerce systems to assist users in making effective selection decisions from a plethora of choices. Collaborative filtering (CF) is one of the most well-known and successful techniques to generate recommendations. However, CF suffers from an inherent issue that does not think over the auxiliary information such as item content information. This paper proposes an approach to combine the similarity of auxiliary information with the similarity of items based on user-item ratings. Specifically, due to the high dimensions and linear correlation of the auxiliary information, this paper uses Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimension to improve the predictive accuracy. In addition, Pearson correlation is better than the Euclidean distance as the similarity measurement to predict accuracy of preference value through the analysis of the different experimental results. Experimental results on real-world data sets demonstrate that the effectiveness of our approach.
An Improved Current Controller for Grid Connected Voltage Source Converter in Microgrid Applications

This paper proposes an improved control scheme for grid interactive voltage source converter (VSC) feeding nonlinear and unbalanced loads connected at the point of common coupling (PCC). A gain scheduling multiresonating controller is proposed to cope with step changes in the reference power commands. The gain scheduling laws are presented under different conditions of reference and load powers. A variable window Fourier transform (VWFT) is employed to compute the average grid power under grid frequency variation and instantaneous symmetrical components theory (ISCT) is used for generation of VSC reference currents. This scheme is also used to facilitate the power flow control along with additional power quality compensation features under distorted grid conditions. The proposed control scheme provides good compensation and tracking performance under step changes in the reference power, grid frequency, and load disturbances. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is tested using MATLAB/Simulink simulations and is validated experimentally on a laboratory prototype.
News consumption patterns among Dutch and German college students with regard to their intended political behavior : A comparative nationality study of gender differences

The present research proposes a theory about the relationship between media news exposure and intended political participation based on the theory of planned behavior by Ajzen (1988). The main goal was to detect the causes of decreased political participation in Western societies and men’s higher political participation compared to women. This study examined the role of news consumption patterns through communication in the context of predicting intended political participation among Dutch and German college students. Two kinds of communication, interpersonal and through media were studied separately. An analysis of survey data (N = 104) showed no strong moderator role of the favorite media news source (Television, Newspapers, Internet). A significant medial influence of the two interpersonal communication variables, community integration and reflective integration on the relationship between media news exposure and political participation, could be demonstrated. The generally assumed gender difference in political participation could not be confirmed in this study. As a moderator variable, gender showed a significant effect on the relationship between media news exposure and political participation. To draw a comparison, this gender difference is greater among Dutch students than German students. 3 News Consumption Patterns among Dutch and German college students: A comparative nationality study of gender differences
Harm-Reduction as Risk Decreasing Strategy in Heroin Dependence

1 Manuscript received August 31, 2010. Daniel Vasile is Associate Professor of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Chief Clinic of Psychiatry, University Emergency Central Military Hospital “Dr. Carol Davila”. Contact address: Bucharest 88, M. Vulcanescu Str. , 010825, Bucharest, Romania, e-mail : danielvpsy@yahoo.com. The presenting author is speaker for: Astra Zeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, CSC Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Organon, Pfizer, Servier, Sanofi AventisResearch funding from Janssen Cilag, Astra Zeneca,Eli Lilly, Schering Plough, Organon,Bioline Rx, Forenap, Wyeth, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Dainippon Sumitomo, Servier. Abstract: Harm reduction is a relatively new concept in the armamentarium of methods used for decreasing abuse and complications of drug dependence, in patients who do not actually intend to give up their substance use completely. The main strategies in this intervention are drug substitution with a less dangerous pharmacological agent, information dissemination in consumer communities about long-term negative effects of drug use and possible complications (sexually transmitted diseases, traumatisms, death by intoxication) and other strategies like needle-exchange or promoting less aggressive criminalization policies. This strategy tries to reduce the high-risk situations encountered by drug dependent patients and was implemented in several countries from Europe (Great Britain, Holland, Switzerland, Germany) and America (United States, Brazil). Several strategies of harm-reduction are also applied in Romania, in adolescent population, with high risk for overdose and other drug dependence complications. Although at conceptual level harm reduction seems an interesting and useful approach, more controlled data are needed in order to verify its efficacy versus other methods.
FGF2‐mediated upregulation of urokinase‐type plasminogen activator expression requires a MAP‐kinase dependent activation of poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase

Poly(ADP‐ribosyl)ation is a post‐translational modification of protein occurring in the nucleus by poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase enzyme activity. The main role of poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase system as “nick sensor” and DNA breaks repair is based on its activation via DNA strand breaks. Furthermore, poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase modifies the binding to DNA of several transcriptional factors by poly(ADP‐ribosyl)ation, thereby regulating also transcriptional gene expression. We have analyzed whether poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase activity is involved in basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2)‐mediated upregulation of urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA) mRNA. We demonstrated that specific inhibition of poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase activity via 3‐aminobenzamide (3ABA) or NAD+ deprivation prevents FGF2‐mediated uPA mRNA over‐expression and cell‐associated plasminogen activator (PA) production in GM7373 endothelial cell line. We verified that FGF2 stimulates poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase activity by a DNA strand breaks‐independent manner which involves a mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK)‐dependent pathway, as confirmed by using PD98059 inhibitor and anisomycin stimulation. Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase involved in this mechanism is mainly the 60 kDa molecular mass isoform, that presents an increase in serine phosphorylation in the presence of FGF2. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Governance and Management Support for Mathematical Literacy Teaching and Learning at a School in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa

This paper reports on the findings of the study that assessed the capacity of the School Governing Body (SGB) and School Management team - SMT ( school principal, deputy principal and HODs) to support the teaching and learning of mathematics and science subjects at one school in Mpumalanga Province in South Africa. In this paper, only findings of the mathematical literacy component are reported and findings on the other subjects are reported in other papers. A case study was conducted in one FET school and used a mixed- methods research design whereby qualitative and quantitative data was collected. The learners were from Grades 10 to 12. The data was collected in the year 2012 from the SGB, SMT, school learners, teachers, and general assistants at the school. The findings showed that though the students were enthusiastic to learn mathematical literacy subject, the SGB and School Management comprised of a weak team to support the students in pertinent areas needed to master the subject. It was concluded that lack of communication between the school administration, SGB, teachers, students and parents on issues pertaining to the execution of school policies, activities and security, could have contributed to lack of students’ engagement and assistance to master the subject. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n1p579
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

WHY: Sleep is critical to health and sense of well-being. However, normal aging changes, medical problems, psychiatric problems, and psychosocial issues can alter the pattern and quality of sleep as one grows older, and, thus affect the quality of life in the older adult. Assessment of sleep patterns enables the nurse to intervene immediately by implementing interventions with the client, or by referring the client for further assessment. BEST TOOL: While simply asking a person, “How is your sleep? ” can give some information, the use of an assessment tool assists in finding the cause of the sleep disturbance. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is an effective instrument used to measure excessive sleepiness or excessive daytime sleepiness. The ESS differentiates between average sleep and significant issues with sleepiness that require intervention. The client self-rates on how likely it is that he/she would doze in eight different situations. Scoring of the answers is 0-3, with 0 being “would never doze” and 3 being “high chance of dozing”. A sum of 9 or more from the eight individual scores reflects “very sleepy and should seek medical advice” (Johns, 1991). TARGET POPULATION: The ESS may be used for both initial assessment and ongoing comparative measurements with older adults across the health care continuum. VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY: There is a high level of internal consistency between the eight items in the ESS as measured by Cronbach’s alpha, ranging from 0.73 to 0.88. Numerous studies using the ESS have supported high validity and reliability. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The ESS is a subjective measure of sleepiness. Self-reporting by clients can empower the client, but can reflect inaccurate information if the client has difficulty understanding what is written, or cannot see or physically write out responses. Moreover, the scale is presented in English and has not been tested in other languages. The scale can be adapted to enable the client to respond verbally to items on the scale by having the nurse read the statements to the client.
Optimal management of MicroGrid using differential evolution approach

This paper focused on optimal operating strategy and cost optimization scheme for a MicroGrid by using Differential Evolution Algorithm. Prior to the optimization of the microgrid itself, the system model components from some real manufactural data are constructed. The proposed cost function takes into consideration the costs of the emissions NOx, SO2, and CO2 as well as the operation and maintenance costs. The battery storage is used for storing excess energy. The optimization is aimed at minimizing the cost function of the system while constraining it to meet the customer demand and safety of the system.
The Role of Job Satisfaction in Transitions into Self–Employment

Self–employment is often seen as an attractive alternative to wage employment, despite lower welfare protection, higher risks, and more required effort than in the latter. It is then important to investigate why individuals choose self–employment. In addition to potential earnings, other factors may be considered, including displacement, uncertainty, unemployment risk, and dissatisfaction. Building on a job quits model, we propose an empirical representation of transitions to self–employment, which includes subjective evaluations of pecuniary and nonpecuniary satisfaction on the previous job. Additionally, we focus on the dynamics of job satisfaction, highlighting the role played by shocks in subjective evaluations.
Extraordinary plasticity in aging in Strongyloides ratti implies a gene‐regulatory mechanism of lifespan evolution

Aging evolves as the result of weakened selection against late‐acting deleterious alleles due, for example, to extrinsic mortality. Comparative studies of aging support this evolutionary theory, but details of the genetic mechanisms by which lifespan evolves remain unclear. We have studied aging in an unusual nematode, Strongyloides ratti, to gain insight into the nature of these mechanisms, in this first detailed examination of aging in a parasitic nematode. S. ratti has distinct parasitic and free‐living adults, living in the rat small intestine and the soil, respectively. We have observed reproductive and demographic aging in parasitic adults, with a maximum lifespan of 403 days. By contrast the maximum lifespan of free‐living adults is only 5 days. Thus, the two adults of S. ratti have evolved strikingly different rates of aging. Parasitic nematode species are frequently longer‐lived than free‐living species, presumably reflecting different extrinsic mortality rates in their respective niches. Parasitic and free‐living female S. ratti are morphologically different, yet genetically identical. Thus, the 80‐fold difference in their lifespans, the greatest plasticity in aging yet reported, must largely reflect evolved differences in gene expression. This suggests that interspecific differences in lifespan may evolve via similar mechanisms.
Ubiquitous Authentication : Definitions , Attacks , and Constructions

We propose a new approach to the construction of provably secure secret-key authentication protocols for lightweight pervasive devices. We specify a flexible model that captures existing security definitions and can be extended modularly to capture additional protocol features or adversarial capabilities for specific application requirements. Our model allows for statefulness, which was not captured by standard definitions in the literature, but is common (and often preferred, due to leakage concerns) in practice. In addition, our model formalizes robustness against memory erasure attacks, a type of tampering attack that is not considered by existing theoretical models, yet has been shown to be eminently feasible on many low-cost devices. We show that most existing protocols based on the Learning Parity with Noise (LPN) problem are very much susceptible to memory erasure attacks. We then propose a two-message protocol in the prover-stateful model which achieves provable concurrent man-in-the-middle security and asymptotically optimal efficiency. Our protocol can be instantiated based on any secure pseudorandom generator (PRG). We also show a variant construction which is resistant to erasure attacks by using a “reinforced” PRG (that can be built from any PRG), at a cost in key size. Preliminary analysis of our protocol’s expected performance when instantiated based on a hardware-oriented stream cipher (Grain) shows that our prover computation time compares favorably against a simple AES-based protocol.
Persistence of the Epstein-Barr virus and the origins of associated lymphomas.

This review of the life cycle of the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) explains how EBV establishes lifelong infection in a host with protective immunity against the virus. The authors also discuss the role of EBV in the development of post-transplantation lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and Burkitt's lymphoma.
Binucleation and polyploidization patterns in developmental and regenerative rat liver growth

The hepatocellular binucleation rate, measured as the percentage of binuclear cells amongst newly formed bromodeoxyuridine‐labelled and immunostained collage‐nase‐isolated rat hepatocytes, decreased from 12% to 4% between days 30 and 40 after birth, rose to 20% between days 50 and 60, and then declined again to the adult rate of about 10% at day 80. During regenerative growth following a two‐thirds partial hepatectomy, the rate of binucleation declined to about 3%, causing the fraction of binuclear cells to fall from 27% (before hepactectomy) to 5% (at 45 h after hepactectomy) as pre‐existing binuclear cells replicated and formed mononuclear daughter cells. Essentially all (97%) hepatocytes replicated at least once, starting their DNA synthesis at around 13 h and reaching a peak at 30 h, irrespective of ploidy and nuclearity. At later time points, the diploid hepatocytes had a higher labelling index than the polyploid cells, suggesting a greater tendency to go through several cell cycles.
Is Complete Surgical Staging Necessary in Clinically Early-Stage Endometrial Carcinoma?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of pelvic/para-aortic node metastases and the other pathological characteristics from medical records of patients with endometrial carcinoma treated at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, between1996 and 2005. The records of 213 patients with endometrial carcinoma who had complete surgical staging were reviewed. A particular focus was on clinically early-stage disease. Clinical staging could be determined in 206 patients. Of the 206 patients, 182 (88.3%) presented with clinical stage I disease. However, only 142 (78%) of these patients were confirmed as surgical stage I and 22% were upstaged. Preoperative histologic grade was diagnosed inaccurately in 15.9% of patients and 7.7% were upgraded. Of patients with preoperative histologic grade 1, 33% had deep myometrial invasion, 8.2% had pelvic node metastasis, and 3.3% had para-aortic node metastasis. Even in clinical stage IaG1, pelvic node metastasis occurred in 5.6% and para-aortic node metastasis in 1.3%. It has been suggested that complete surgical staging may not be necessary in patients with low-risk endometrial carcinoma who have disease limited to the uterus without grade 3 or deep myometrial invasion. However, proper selection of such low-risk patients remains problematic. In situations where there is limited preoperative and intraoperative assessment of high-risk factors, particularly radiographic imaging and frozen section assessment, the role of complete surgical staging is beneficial.
A Comparative Study of Current Open-source Infrastructure as a Service Frameworks

With the growth of cloud computing in recent years, several commercial and open source IaaS frameworks have emerged. The development of open source IaaS solutions offers a free and flexible alternative to commercial cloud services. The main contribution of this paper is to provide a qualitative comparative of current open-source IaaS frameworks. Existing research papers examining open source IaaS frameworks have focused on comparing OpenStack with a small number of alternatives. However, current research fails to adequately compare all major open source frameworks in a single study and notably lacks the inclusion of CloudStack. Our research paper provides the first overview of the five main open source cloud IaaS frameworks – OpenStack, CloudStack, OpenNebula, Eucalyptus and Nimbus. As such, this review provides researchers and potential users with an up to date and comprehensive overview of the features of each solution and allows for an easy comparison between the open source solutions.