Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Broad Scope of Prion Biochemical Assays and its Reproducibility, Utility and Applications

An increasing number of neurological diseases have been linked to prion-like processes. Prions are made of a normal cellular protein that has undergone a pathological alteration that allows it to replicate through a template-assisted mechanism. The prion protein, or PrP, provided the first example of this process in which the normally alpha helical PrP undergoes a conformational change becoming beta sheeted that promotes its aggregation. The fact that the converted protein can serve as a template allows it to function as an infectious agent. Aggregation and transmission between cells has also been observed with other neurodegeneration associated proteins such as alpha synuclein in Parkinson’s disease and Aß in Alzheimer disease. The basis for new and sensitive tests for prion diseases is the ability of abnormal TSEassociated forms of prion protein to seed the formation of amyloid fibrils from recombinant PrP(Sen). In this review we will summarize the improvements in prion biochemical assays including Standard Quaking-Induced Conversion (S-QuIC), Enhanced QuIC (eQuIC), Real-Time QuIC (RT-QuIC), rPrP-PMCA (rPMCA) and the Amyloid Seeding Assay (ASA). We also contrast the molecular pathology of prion diseases with other neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we will discuss the possibility of implementing some of these tests for other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer disease, and how these tests might be adapted for the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease.
Colloidal Flower‐Shaped Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis Strategies and Coatings

The assembly of magnetic cores into regular structures may notably influence the properties displayed by a magnetic colloid. Here, key synthesis parameters driving the self‐assembly process capable of organizing colloidal magnetic cores into highly regular and reproducible multi‐core nanoparticles are determined. In addition, a self‐consistent picture that explains the collective magnetic properties exhibited by these complex assemblies is achieved through structural, colloidal, and magnetic means. For this purpose, different strategies to obtain flower‐shaped iron oxide assemblies in the size range 25–100 nm are examined. The routes are based on the partial oxidation of Fe(OH)2, polyol‐mediated synthesis or the reduction of iron acetylacetonate. The nanoparticles are functionalized either with dextran, citric acid, or alternatively embedded in polystyrene and their long‐term stability is assessed. The core size is measured, calculated, and modeled using both structural and magnetic means, while the Debye model and multi‐core extended model are used to study interparticle interactions. This is the first step toward standardized protocols of synthesis and characterization of flower‐shaped nanoparticles.
Optimizing the Coordinates Position for Optimal Placement of ZigBee for Power Monitoring From Remote Location

Monitoring of power and its proper management plays an essential role in today’s world scenario. But this becomes a difficult task when the target area is a remote location. Long distance monitoring of any remotely located plant and managing of transmission and distribution of power efficiently and cost effectively is the main concern that has been focused upon in this paper. Various technologies are available for this purpose but selecting out the best is again a challenging job. In this paper we have proposed an algorithm which compares three of the technologies that is Bluetooth, ZigBee and Wibree, and selects the best combination in respect of cost, speed, power consumption and range for the purpose mentioned above. The data transfer network discussed here includes collection of data from remote locations and transmission through these technologies to a centrally located ZigBee which is further sent to a console through GSM.
Nine Decades Later: Idaho Women Reflect on the Meaning of the Nineteenth Amendment

Reflecting on the 90th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment (ratified August, 1920), this narrative inquiry explored its significance to women in leadership positions residing in Idaho. Idaho's status as a forerunner approving suffrage underscored the foundation for the study. The researchers also wanted to investigate whether women have reached equal citizenship in aspects other than the right to vote. Findings indicate that the Nineteenth Amendment was pivotal in not only giving women a voice in governmental decisions, but also paved the way for other political and social breakthroughs. However, few participants linked passage of the Amendment with their rise to leadership. In some instances, full equality has not been achieved and gender discrimination still occurs, primarily when seeking leadership positions
Anticancer and Antifolate Activities of Extracts of Six Saudi Arabian Wild Plants Used in Folk Medicine

Six indigenous folk medicinal plants growing wild in the area of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia which were selected for the study of their phytochemistry as well as their biological activities as antitumor and antifolate agents. Antitumor activities of methanol extracts of the six plants were measured in vitro using three human tumor cell lines (breast, lung and CNS cancers) while antifolate activities were assessed using commercial dihyrofolate reductase obtained from Sigma Co. Among the six plant extracts tested, the most remarkable were those of Caralluma sinaica and Fagonia tenuifolia. Caralluma extract showed strong antitumor activity (low GI50) against the three human tumor cell lines. Fagonia extract, on the other hand, was quite inhibitory to the growth of CNS cancer and breast cancer cell lines but much less so against lung cancer cells. Extracts of both Sonchus oleraceus and Caralluma sinaica were strongly inhibitory to DHFR. These results suggest that the mechanism of anticancer activity of Caralluma plant is through DHFR inhibition but that of Fagonia may follow a different path.
Subtropical sea-surface warming and increased salinity during Eocene Thermal Maximum 2

Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM-2; ca. 54.2 Ma) represents the second largest of the major Eocene hyperthermals, yet comparatively little is known about the scale and rate of climatic change for key regions. Here we provide the first detailed records of subtropical sea-surface warming and salinization for ETM-2 at two subtropical locations, Ocean Drilling Program Sites 1209 (North Pacific) and 1265 (South Atlantic). Coupled planktic foraminiferal Mg/Ca and δ18O indicate 2-4 °C of rapid warming and local salinization of ~1-2 ppt at both sites. The increase in sea-surface temperature is equivalent to anomalies reported from higher latitude sites, and is consistent with theory on the expected pattern of spatial temperature response to greenhouse gas forcing in an ice-free world (i.e., no ice-albedo feedback). Similarly, the observed salinization is consistent with the hypothesis of enhanced meridional vapor transport and increased subtropical aridity in a warmer world.
Does variety-seeking at the attribute level vary between utilitarian and hedonic products ? An experimental study

Variety-seeking behavior has received considerable attention in the consumer behavior literature. The concept of an optimal level of stimulation (OSL) is central to theories that have been put forward to explain variety-seeking tendencies in consumers (McAlister & Pessemier, 1982; Raju, 1980). When consumers feel satiation on attributes provided by a specific brand, their level of stimulation drops below OSL and behavioral response by means of varietyseeking is initiated to optimize stimulation to the preferred level (Jeuland, 1978; McAlister, 1979, 1982). Variety-seeking behavior at the attribute level is related to the level of satiation on desired attributes at a given point in time. Satiation on the product attributes offered by a specific brand could be occurring because consumers may not find a single option that satisfies all of the attributes of an ideal point. Moreover consumers may seek a balance of attributes to maximize utility (Farquhar & Rao, 1976) or need to balance current consumption according to the impact of past consumption (Lattin, 1987). However, these theories do not offer guidance on the specific product attributes that are more possible to stimulate variety-seeking.
A New Genus and Species of Diplodactylid Gecko (Reptilia: Squamata: Diplodactylidae) from Northwestern New Caledonia1

ABSTRACT A new genus and species of diplodactylid gecko, Oedodera marmorata Bauer, Jackman, Sadlier & Whitaker, is described from low-elevation maquis habitat near Paagoumène in the northwest of the Province Nord, New Caledonia. The new gecko is a robust form that is superficially similar to members of the genus Bavayia Roux but differs in several digital characteristics, the presence of a patch (versus 1–2 rows) of precloacal pores, and a uniquely swollen neck. In addition, molecular data indicate that the new form is the basal member of the entire radiation of New Caledonian diplodactylids. The new species is at risk due to wildfires, introduced predators and perhaps competitors, and planned mine development into part of its range.
Diab-10-0431 Estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria are independent predictors of cardiovascular events and mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus : the FIELD study

* Joint first authors Auckland Diabetes Centre, Auckland, New Zealand 2 NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia 3 Department of Molecular Medicine, National Public Health Institute, Biomedicum, Helsinki, Finland 4 South Western Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia 5 Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia, Australia 6 University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 7 Nephrologie et Reanimation Metabolique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Dijon, Dijon 21079, France (and Laboratiores Fournier, Dijon, France) 8 Diabetes Lifestyle Centre, Palmerston North Hospital, Palmerston North, New Zealand 9 University of Western Australia, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, WA, Australia 10 Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia
Using ARC based grids for NGS read mapping - Grid interface for BWA

This technical note describes a command-line Grid interface for the Burrows-Wheeler Aligner (BWA) read-mapping program. With this interface, BWA jobs can easily utilise Advanced Resource Connector (ARC) middleware-based Grid environments. The interface automatically splits the mapping task into sub-tasks that are executed in parallel in a computing Grid. This approach can significantly speed up the read-mapping process. Availability: http://www.csc. fi/english/research/sciences/bioscience/programs/BWA
Digital divides revisited: what is new about divides and their research?

This article critically reviews well-established and recent trends in digital divides literature and research, highlighting new elements of divides and the related research and making recommendations about future research. First, it disentangles some aspects of the puzzling nature and ongoing importance of digital divides. It then discusses how the concept of digital divides has evolved over the last two decades and how research literature has examined it on the basis of different attempts at contextualisation. The article brings together theoretical and empirical insights and suggests that digital divides be revisited so as to illustrate the need for less linear and more properly contextualised approaches to the concept and phenomenon of digital divides where technology, society and politics will be jointly taken into consideration to explain divides. It specifically proposes that digital divides and the research into these be revisited so as to emphasise the critical role of socio-cultural and decision-making dynamics in structuring the adoption of ICT in both qualitative and quantitative terms. Thus, it argues that the web of cultural traits in a society, with its own gaps and disparities, as well as policy and regulation dynamics, are in a constant dialogue with technology, together influencing digital divides and entailing implications for other forms of division in society.
Instrumental and scientific simulations of the LOFT wide field monitor

The Large Observatory for X-ray Timing (LOFT) is one of the five candidates that were considered by ESA as an M3 mission (with launch in 2022-2024). It is specifically designed to exploit the diagnostics of very rapid X-ray flux and spectral variability that directly probe the motion of matter down to distances very close to black holes and neutron stars, as well as the physical state of ultradense matter. The LOFT scientific payload is composed of the Large Area Detector (LAD), devoted to spectral-timing observation, and the Wide Field Monitor (WFM), whose primary goal it is to monitor the X-ray sky for transient events that need to be followed up with the LAD, and to measure the long-term variability of galactic X-ray sources and localize gamma-ray bursts. Here we describe the simulations carried out to optimize the WFM design and to characterize the instrument response to both isolated sources and crowded fields in the proximity of the galactic bulge.
Financial Contagion in Networks

This paper provides an introduction to the literature on financial contagion in networks. In the first part, we consider contagion via transmission of shocks, i.e. an abrupt drop in the flow of revenue to one firm, which affects other firms connected to it through financial linkages. We then study informational contagion, by which we mean the process whereby a shock to one market is transmitted to other markets by means of information revealed in the first market.
L O ] 1 3 N ov 2 01 8 Measuring Masking Fault-Tolerance

In this paper we introduce a notion of fault-tolerance distance between labeled transition systems. Intuitively, this notion of distance measures the degree of fault-tolerance exhibited by a candidate system. In practice, there are different kinds of fault-tolerance, here we restrict ourselves to the analysis of masking fault-tolerance because it is often a highly desirable goal for critical systems. Roughly speaking, a system is masking fault-tolerant when it is able to completely mask the faults, not allowing these faults to have any observable consequences for the users. We capture masking fault-tolerance via a simulation relation, which is accompanied by a corresponding game characterization. We enrich the resulting games with quantitative objectives to define the notion of masking fault-tolerance distance. Furthermore, we investigate the basic properties of this notion of masking distance, and we prove that it is a directed pseudo metric. We have implemented our approach in a prototype tool that automatically compute the masking distance between a nominal system and a fault-tolerant version of it. We have used this tool to measure the masking tolerance of multiple instances of several case studies.
Validity of Metaphors and Views of Software Visualization for Parallel Computing

In this paper approaches to the evaluation of Software Visualization for Parallel Computing are considered on the examples of representation of call graphs and execution traces of parallel programs. The concept of visualization metaphor is described. The visualization metaphors using to depict call graphs and execution traces are surveyed. The validity of visualization techniques is considered on basis of analysis of metaphor properties, Shneiderman’s scheme and other approaches to the evaluation of metaphors and views.
Effects of Beaver Dams on Subarctic Wetland Hydrology

Beaver dams are ubiquitous in subarctic wetlands, where runoff in the flat terrain is highly prone to changes as the stream courses are modified by beaver activities. Depending on the state of preservation, stream flow can overtop or funnel through gaps in the dams, leak from the bottom of the dams or seep through the entire structure. Peak and low flows are regulated by these dams to a varying extent. The formation of beaver ponds causes local flooding, while the open water surfaces of the ponds increase water loss from the wetlands. Water spilled from the dams may cause diversion channels to produce complex drainage patterns. Comparing the water balance of basins with and without a beaver dam at its outlet confirms that the dammed basin lost more water to evaporation, suppressed the outflow and increased the basin water storage.
Future Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Design Methodologies and Tool Flows

Abstract : Interest is growing in the use of FPGA devices for high-performance, efficient parallel computation. The large amount of programmable logic, internal routing, and memory can be used to perform a wide variety of high-performance computation more efficiently than traditional microprocessor-based computing architectures. The productivity of FPGA design, however, is very low. FPGA design is very time consuming and requires low-level hardware design skills. This study investigated this FPGA design productivity problem and identified potential solutions that will provide revolutionary improvements in design productivity. Three research areas that must be addressed to achieve such improvements are significant improvement in reuse of FPGA circuits, identification and deployment of higher level design abstractions, and increasing the number of turns per day to significantly increase the number of design iterations. The results of this study suggest that with adequate advancement in each of these areas, FPGA design productivity can be increased by 25X over current practice.
Title Enhanced ISAR imaging by exploiting the continuity ofthe target scene

This paper presents a novel inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging method by exploiting the inherent continuity of the scatterers on the target scene to obtain enhanced target images within a Bayesian framework. A simplified radar system is utilized by transmitting the sparse probing frequency signal, where the ISAR imaging problem can be converted into one dealing with under-determined linear inverse scattering. Following the Bayesian compressive sensing theory, a hierarchical Bayesian prior is employed to model the scatterers in the rangeDoppler plane. In contrast to the independent prior on each scatterer in conventional Bayesian compressive sensing, a correlated prior is proposed to statistically encourage the continuity structure of the scatterers in the target region. To overcome the intractability of the posterior distribution, the Gibbs sampling strategy is used for Bayesian inference. The parameters of the signal model are inferred efficiently from samples obtained by the Gibbs sampler. Because the proposed method is a data-driven learning process, the tedious parameter tuning process required by the convex optimization based approaches can be avoided. Both the synthetic and the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can achieve substantial improvements in the scenarios of limited measurements and low signal-to-noise ratio compared with other reported algorithms for ISAR imaging problems.
Comparison of different treatment modalities for tibial fractures: A clinical study

Background: The management of unstable distal tibia fractures remains Challenging. The proximity to the ankle makes the surgical treatment more complicated. The present study was carried out to compare different treatment modalities for management of tibial fractures. Materials & Methods: This study was conducted in the department of orthopaedics in 2014. It consisted of 200 patients with tibial fractures. It involves males (100) and females (100). Patients were informed regarding the study and written consent was taken. Patient data such as name, age, gender etc was recorded. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 100 patients each. Group I treated with plaster cast and Group II treated with fixation with plate and screws. Factors such as time to fracture healing, numbers of delayed union, nonunion and malunion, incidence of infection, and other complications were recorded in all groups. Results: Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group I treated with plaster cast (100) with 50 males and 50 females. Group II treated with fixation with plate and screws with plaster cast (100) with 50 males and 50 females. The difference was non significant (P>0.05). Non union or delayed union seen in group I was 12% and in group II was 10%. The difference was non significant (P>0.05). Malunion seen in group I was 22% and in group II was 16%. The difference was non significant (P>0.05). There was no superficial infection in group I. In group II, 7% of infection was seen. The difference was significant (P<0.05). The need for reoperation in group I was 8% and in group II was 10%. The difference was non significant (P>0.05). Reason for tibial fractures was road side accident (RSA) (65%), sports injury (25%) and fall from height (10%) in group I. In group II, the reason was road side accident (72%), sports injury (22%) and fall from height (6%). The difference was non significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: Tibial fractures are becoming common due to road side accidents, fall from height and sports injury. Closed reduction and immobilization and open reduction with plates and screws are widely used. Complications are common with both techniques. Therefore selection of specific treatment modality is essential in preventing complications.
Glacial cycles: Toward a new paradigm

The largest environmental changes in the recent geological history of the Earth are undoubtedly the successions of glacial and interglacial times. It has been clearly demonstrated that changes in the orbital parameters of our planet have a crucial role in these cycles. Nevertheless, several problems in classical astronomical theory of paleoclimate have indeed been identified: (1) The main cyclicity in the paleoclimatic record is close to 100,000 years, but there is no significant orbitally induced changes in the radiative forcing of the Earth in this frequency range (the “100‐kyr problem”); (2) the most prominent glacial‐interglacial transition occurs at a time of minimal orbital variations (the “stage 11 problem); and (3) at ∼0.8 Ma a change from a 41‐kyr dominant periodicity to a 100‐kyr periodicity occurred without major changes in orbital forcing or in the Earth's configuration (the “late Pleistocene transition problem”). Additionally, the traditional view states that the climate system changes slowly and continuously together with the slow evolution of the large continental ice sheets, whereas recent high‐resolution data from ice and marine sediment cores do not support such a gradual scenario. Most of the temperature rise at the last termination occurred over a few decades in the Northern Hemisphere, indicating a major and abrupt reorganization of the ocean‐atmosphere system. Similarly, huge iceberg discharges during glacial times, known as Heinrich events, clearly demonstrate that ice sheet changes may also be sometimes quite abrupt. In light of these recent paleoclimatic data the Earth climate system appears much more unstable and seems to jump abruptly between different quasi steady states. Using the concept of thresholds, this new paradigm can be easily integrated into classical astronomical theory and compared with recent observational evidence. If the ice sheet changes are, by definition, the central phenomenon of glacial‐interglacial cycles, other components of the climate system (atmospheric CO2 concentration, Southern Ocean productivity, or global deep‐ocean circulation) may play an even more fundamental role in these climatic cycles.