Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shape of tropoelastin, the highly extensible protein that controls human tissue elasticity

Elastin enables the reversible deformation of elastic tissues and can withstand decades of repetitive forces. Tropoelastin is the soluble precursor to elastin, the main elastic protein found in mammals. Little is known of the shape and mechanism of assembly of tropoelastin as its unique composition and propensity to self-associate has hampered structural studies. In this study, we solve the nanostructure of full-length and corresponding overlapping fragments of tropoelastin using small angle X-ray and neutron scattering, allowing us to identify discrete regions of the molecule. Tropoelastin is an asymmetric coil, with a protruding foot that encompasses the C-terminal cell interaction motif. We show that individual tropoelastin molecules are highly extensible yet elastic without hysteresis to perform as highly efficient molecular nanosprings. Our findings shed light on how biology uses this single protein to build durable elastic structures that allow for cell attachment to an appended foot. We present a unique model for head-to-tail assembly which allows for the propagation of the molecule’s asymmetric coil through a stacked spring design.
Determination of Arsenic in Soil Extracts by Flow-Through Anodic Stripping Coulometry

Flow-through coulometry was used for the determination of arsenic in soil extracts in 2 mol.dm -3 HCl solution. Arsenic(III) species were deposited on gold plated porous working electrodes and then galvanostatically stripped. The procedure was optimized and possible interferences were identified. The total As content was determined after a reduction step in a microwave oven with hydrazine hydrochloride. The detection limit was found to be 0.15 μg·dm -3 in the analyzed solution. A linear response range was achieved up to As concentrations of several mg·dm -3 . The procedure was applied for the analysis of soil extract samples from three localities in Slovakia.
Facile Synthesis of Thermally Stable Core−Shell Gold Nanoparticles via Photo-Cross-Linkable Polymeric Ligands

Misang Yoo, Seyong Kim, Jongmin Lim, Edward J. Kramer, Craig J. Hawker, Bumjoon J. Kim,* and Joona Bang* Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea, and Department and Materials and Materials Research Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106
Expression of the psbDII gene in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 requires sequences downstream of the transcription start site

The psbDI and psbDII genes in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 encode the D2 polypeptide, an essential component of the photosystem II reaction center. Previous studies have demonstrated that transcripts from psbDII, but not psbDI, increase in response to high light intensity. Soluble proteins from Synechococcus cells shifted to high light were found to have affinity for DNA sequences upstream from the psbDII coding region. DNA mobility-shift and copper-phenanthroline footprinting assays of a 258-bp fragment revealed three distinct DNA-protein complexes that mapped to the untranslated leader region between +11 and +84. Deletion of the upstream flanking region to -42 had no effect on the expression of a psbDII-lacZ reporter gene or its induction by light, whereas a promoterless construct supported only minimal background levels of beta-galactosidase. A 4-bp deletion within the first protected region of the footprint decreased the beta-galactosidase activity to approximately 2% of that of the undeleted control, but gene expression remained responsive to light. Deletion of the three protected regions completely abolished both gene expression and light induction. These results suggest that the psbDII gene requires elements within the untranslated leader region for efficient gene expression, one of which may be involved in regulation by light.
Self-Affirmation Increases Defensiveness Toward Health Risk Information Among Those Experiencing Negative Emotions: Results From Two National Samples

Objective: Self-affirmation can promote health behavior change and yield long-term improvements in health via its effect on receptiveness to risk information in behavior change interventions. Across 2 studies, we examined whether the emotional state of the person presented with health risk information moderates self-affirmation effectiveness. Method: Data were collected from 2 U.S. national samples (n = 652, n = 448) via GfK, an Internet-based survey company. Female alcohol consumers completed an emotion induction (fear, anger, or neutral). They then completed a standard self-affirmation (or no-affirmation) essay-writing task, and subsequently received a health message linking alcohol to breast cancer. Results: There was a significant interaction between emotion and self-affirmation conditions, such that self-affirmation reduced the specificity of health behavior change plans among those experiencing negative emotion (Study 1: B = −0.55, p < .001), with consistent but not significant effects for anger (Study 2: B = −.47, p = .069. Among self-affirmed participants, essays were rated as significantly less self-affirming for individuals experiencing negative emotion (or anger). Mediation analyses limited to the self-affirmation condition revealed an indirect effect of negative emotion condition on health behavior change plan specificity via self-affirmation ratings of essay content in Study 1: &bgr; = 0.04, p = . 041. Conclusions: The salutary effect of self-affirmation on plan specificity was reversed with negative emotion. These findings may be attributed to disruption of the self-affirmation process. Individuals who enter interventions using self-affirmation in a negative emotion state may be less prepared to benefit from other intervention content, and may even be less likely to change health behaviors as a result of the intervention.
Highly Accelerated T1-Weighted Abdominal Imaging Using 2-Dimensional Controlled Aliasing in Parallel Imaging Results in Higher Acceleration: A Comparison With Generalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisitions Parallel Imaging

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and technical quality of an abdominal 3-dimensional interpolated breath-hold (volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination [VIBE]) magnetic resonance examination using the new parallel acquisition technique, controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA). Materials and MethodsIn this institutional review board–approved study, 15 volunteers underwent an abdominal magnetic resonance imaging examination including axial unenhanced 3-dimensional VIBE sequences with the conventional parallel acquisition technique, generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions parallel imaging (GRAPPA), with an acceleration factor (R) of 2, 3, 4, and 2 × 2 in comparison with a CAIPIRINHA-VIBE sequence with an acceleration factor of 2 × 2. Images were evaluated regarding the overall image quality, liver edge sharpness, and parallel imaging artifacts. Signal-to-noise ratio was evaluated using 2 different methods. In a second study population, 17 patients were examined with our new routine protocol for abdominal imaging that now comprises VIBE sequences with CAIPIRINHA with R = 2 × 2. ResultsIn the volunteer population, the overall image quality of CAIPIRINHA with R = 2 × 2 was significantly higher compared with GRAPPA with R = 3, 4, and 2 × 2 (P < 0.05). There were significantly less parallel imaging artifacts with CAIPIRINHA with R = 2 × 2 (P < 0.05). Acquisition time varied between 21.1 (GRAPPA with R = 2, 320 matrix) and 6.9 seconds (CAIPIRINHA with R = 2 × 2, 256 matrix). Signal-to-noise ratio performance of CAIPIRINHA with R = 2 × 2 was superior to GRAPPA with R = 3, 4, and 2 × 2. In the patient population, VIBE sequences with CAIPIRINHA with R = 2 × 2 showed consistently good image quality, minimal motion artifacts, and minimal parallel imaging artifacts. ConclusionsThe CAIPRINHA-VIBE with an acceleration factor of R = 2 × 2 is feasible in a clinical setting and is characterized by fast and robust imaging with an image quality comparable with a 2-fold acceleration with GRAPPA.
The comparative efficacy of trazodone and imipramine in the treatment of depression.

OBJECTIVE To review published clinical trials comparing the efficacy of trazodone with that of tricyclic antidepressant medication. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE was searched for relevant articles published from 1983 to 1991. The bibliography of a review article was searched for further references. STUDY SELECTION In all, 25 clinical trials were found. Six of these met the methodologic assessment criteria (adapted from the McMaster guidelines for the evaluation of clinical trials), which included the stipulation of a score of 18 or more on the Hamilton depression rating scale and a 50% reduction in that score as an outcome measure. DATA EXTRACTION All six studies compared trazodone with imipramine. Data describing response to the treatments were extracted, and post-hoc power estimates were calculated. The analysis also involved statistical tests of a modified null hypothesis, the generation of confidence intervals (CIs) and a meta-analysis. DATA SYNTHESIS All the studies found no significant difference in the efficacy of trazodone and imipramine. However, the statistical power of most of them was less than 50% and often less than 10%; thus there was a low probability that differences would be detected. The results of statistical tests of the modified null hypothesis, inspection of the CIs and the results of the meta-analysis all suggested that trazodone, and imipramine are equally efficacious. CONCLUSION The application of various techniques for the analysis of equivalence data suggests that trazodone and imipramine are of approximately equivalent efficacy. The data are compatible with small differences in efficacy, but the differences are of a magnitude such that they are unlikely to be of clinical significance.
Root coverage with free rotated papilla autograft using envelop technique

Background: Most commonly palatal region is used as the donor site for obtaining connective tissue graft for root coverage as it has the advantage of providing a wide area for obtaining the graft. In the cases requiring small size of graft other intraoral regions can also be used. This is a case report which demonstrates the use of interdental papilla for obtaining connective tissue for root coverage in single teeth in the lower anterior region. Methods: The technique involved creating an envelope in the tissue around the denuded root surface and placing the connective tissue graft taken from the interdental papilla over the recession defect.Result: Clinically significant amount of root coverage was obtained. Conclusion: Root coverage of a shallow narrow recession defect can be obtained with free rotated papilla autograft using envelop technique.
Using Consensus Sequence Voting to Correct OCR Errors

Abstract We present experimental results suggesting that between 20 and 50% of the errors caused by a single OCR package can be eliminated by simply scanning a page three times and running a “consensus sequence” voting procedure. This technique, which originates from molecular biology, takes exponential time in general, but can be specialized to a fast heuristic guaranteed to be optimal for the cases of interest. The improvement in recognition accuracy is achieved without making a priori assumptions about the distribution of OCR errors (i.e., no “training” is required).
Embryonic Lethality, Decreased Erythropoiesis, and Defective Octamer-Dependent Promoter Activation in Oct-1-Deficient Mice

ABSTRACT Oct-1 is a sequence-specific DNA binding transcription factor that is believed to regulate a large group of tissue-specific and ubiquitous genes. Both Oct-1 and the related but tissue-restricted Oct-2 protein bind to a DNA sequence termed the octamer motif (5′-ATGCAAAT-3′) with equal affinity in vitro. To address the role of Oct-1 in vivo, an Oct-1-deficient mouse strain was generated by gene targeting. Oct-1-deficient embryos died during gestation, frequently appeared anemic, and suffered from a lack of Ter-119-positive erythroid precursor cells. This defect was cell intrinsic. Fibroblasts derived from these embryos displayed a dramatic decrease in Oct-1 DNA binding activity and a lack of octamer-dependent promoter activity in transient transfection assays. Interestingly, several endogenous genes thought to be regulated by Oct-1 showed no change in expression. When crossed to Oct-2+/− animals, transheterozygotes were recovered at a very low frequency. These findings suggest a critical role for Oct-1 during development and a stringent gene dosage effect with Oct-2 in mediating postnatal survival.
Re: Assessment of sexual functions in partners of women with complaints of urinary incontinence

We have read the article by Keles et. al. (1) which was an interesting study evaluating the sexual function of partners of women with complaints of urinary incontinence (UI). In this study, they tried to assess the sexual function in men with female partners suffering stress or urge UI by International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). They showed that erectile function in the partners of women with UI may be adversely affected by the UI of their partners. Multifactorial nature of sexuality should be considered during the evaluation of the sexual function of men and women. The factors affecting male sexual dysfunction are depression, anxiety, stress, other mental health problems and physical causes including diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, treatments for prostate cancer, benign prostate hyperplasia, neurological diseases, hypogonadism, smoking, and pelvic surgeries (2). Although this study did not evaluate the sexual function of women, the UI has a negative impact of sexual function of the women (3). A significant correlation between female sexual function and male erectile function has been reported, based on scores from the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and IIEF (4). In addition to these factors, several andrologic studies suggested that total testosterone plays an imperative role in erectile physiology in humans and its deficiency causes ED. The recent EMAS study found that total testosterone is significantly associated with ED (5). Thus, we consider that these factors for male dysfunction, as mentioned above, are limitations of this study, because the authors did not evaluate these factors and female sexual function and they aimed to reach a conclusion that UI in women have adverse effect on male sexual function. In addition, the authors did not report the hormonal status of male partners and if they use were using any medical treatment including hormones, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors, because these medications can affect sexual function. As a result, we claim that these factors should be indicated as a limitation to strengthen the outcomes of the study.
Investigating the Coupling between Stimulation and Neural Activity: a Dynamic Modeling Approach

The objective of the present study was to build a dynamic model relating changes in neural responses in rat barrel cortex to an electrical whisker stimulation pulse train of varying frequencies. This work is part of a formal mathematical system currently being developed (e.g. [1] and [2]), which links stimulation to the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal. Neural responses were measured in terms of local field potentials, which were then converted into current source density (CSD) data. Responses were found to be strongly suppressed immediately following the first stimulus pulse, before recovering to a steady state, which was maintained throughout the rest of the stimulation. The amplitude of this steady state decreases as the stimulation frequency increases, as shown in [3]-[6]. The model structure is based on the physiological pathway from the rat sensory organ to the cortex. Dynamic linear second order systems are used to model the excitatory as well as the suppressive components of the neural response. The interactions between components contain nonlinear modulations. The model was evaluated against CSD data from experiments with varying stimulation frequency (1-40 Hz), and shows a plausible fit. The model parameters obtained by optimization for different physiological conditions (anaesthetized or awake) were significantly different. Although this is a descriptive model, it may well have some physiological implications.
Small-Signal Impedance Measurement of Power-Electronics-Based AC Power Systems Using Line-to-Line Current Injection

Naval ships as well as aerospace power systems are incorporating a greater degree of power electronic switching sources and loads. Although these components provide exceptional performance, they are prone to instability due to their high efficiency and constant power characteristics that can exhibit negative impedance nature at certain frequencies. When designing these systems, integrators must consider the impedance versus frequency at an interface (which designates source and load). Stability criteria have been developed in terms of source and load impedances for both dc and ac systems, and it is often helpful to have techniques for impedance measurement. For dc systems, the measurement techniques have been well established. This paper introduces a new method of impedance measurement for three-phase ac systems. By injecting an unbalanced line-to-line current between two lines of the ac system, all impedance information in the traditional synchronous reference frame d-q model can be determined. For medium-voltage systems, the proposed technique is simpler and less costly than having an injection circuit for each phase. Since the current injection is between only two phase lines, the proposed measurement device can be used for both ac and dc interfaces. Simulation and laboratory measurements demonstrate the effectiveness of this new technique.
Double cone ultra wide band unit cell in ridge gap waveguides

Ridge gap waveguides are proposed for high frequency applications. The propagating mode inside these structures is the Quasi TEM mode, where the signal is propagating between two parallel electric conducting surfaces and attenuated off its intended path by replacing the off path surface by an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC). The operating bandwidth of the ridge gap waveguides is a function of the stop band of the unit cells that form the AMC. The bandwidth of the basic shapes of the Bed of Nail Unit Cells (BNUC) is about 2:1 and some trials were presented to propose different shapes of bandwidth about 3:1. This work introduces a different nail shape that provides a bandwidth ratio of almost 5:1. Parametric investigations are presented to clarify the critical parameters that affect the bandwidth as well as a study of complete design using the proposed cell structure.
An analysis into age changes of the human dental arch by a multivariate technique.

The dimensions of the maxillary and mandibular dental arches were measured from 280 subjects aged between 3 and 15 years in a cross-sectional study. The growth changes were examined by means of canonical analysis, a multivariate technique. This technique enabled the dental arches to be treated as biological units, rather than a series of discrete parameters, as is possible using univariate techniques. The results showed that the size and shape of the dental arches changed maximally between the periods 5–7 and 11–13 years of age. These periods correspond to the major phases of permanent tooth eruption.
Corrigendum to “Generalized periodicity and primitivity for words”

We correct a mistake in the paper “Generalized periodicity and primitivity for words” [4] and justify the existence of regular languages all of whose roots are not even context‐sensitive. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Quality of Life After Anti-Reflux Surgery in Adults

Concepts of validity are of vital importance in the contemporary health care environment where outcome and Quality of Life (QoL) constructs are seen as relevant end points for evaluating the success of treatment and justifying continued intervention. QoL assessments, though sometimes subtle, have always played a central role in the therapeutic objectives of medicine. While the evaluation of surgical interventions focus primarily on outcomes, judgment regarding the success of the intervention should also take into account the functional, physiological, and social aspects of the disease and its treatment. Particularly, in chronic disease states, patients’ QoL may be the most important parameter in assessing the efficacy of surgical treatment.
Merging Conceptual Hierarchies Using Concept Lattices Amine

In many situations, one faces the need for integrating a set of conceptual hierarchies that represent parts of the same domain. The target structure of the integration is a unique conceptual hierarchy that embeds at least the total of the knowledge encoded in the initial ones. The key issues to address here are the discovery of higher-level abstractions on top of the existing concepts and the resolution of naming conflicts among these. Formal concepts analysis (FCA) is a mathematical approach toward abstracting from attribute-based object descriptions which has been recently extended to fit relational descriptions thus giving rise to the relational concept analysis (RCA) framework. Building up on RCA, our integration approach amounts to encoding the initial hierarchies into set of binary tables, one for each component category, e.g., classes, associations, etc., and subsequently constructing, querying and reorganizing the corresponding abstraction hierarchies until a unique satisfactory hierarchy is obtained. This paper puts the emphasis on the mechanisms of discovering new abstractions and exporting them between the abstraction hierarchies of related component categories. The impact of naming conflicts within the RCA process is discussed as well. The paper uses UML as description language for conceptual hierarchies.
A sufficient condition for super-simplicity of almost-sure theories

In Hill [11], it was shown that an almost-sure theory for a Fraïssé class K relative to an asymptotic probability measure with “independent sampling” is necessarily super-simple of finite rank with D(x=x) = 1. In this note, we show that this independent sampling hypothesis is much stronger than necessary. By examining the Aldous-Hoover-Kallenberg (AHK) presentation of an asymptotic probability measure, we find that a certain “ample-fibers” condition is sufficient for super-simplicity. This ample-fibers condition expresses, as a statement about the “hidden” randomness of the AHK-presentation, the assurance that every extension axiom of the generic theory of K is satisfied.
A Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mutant Lacking a K+/H+ Exchanger

ABSTRACT The KHA1 gene corresponding to the open reading frame YJL094c (2.62 kb) encoding a putative K+/H+antiporter (873 amino acids) in Saccharomyces cerevisiaewas disrupted by homologous recombination. The core protein is similar to the putative Na+/H+ antiporters fromEnterococcus hirae (NAPA gene) andLactococcus lactis (LLUPP gene) and the putative K+/H+ exchanger from Escherichia coli (KEFC gene). Disruption of the KHA1gene resulted in an increased K+ accumulation and net influx without a significant difference in efflux, as well as an increased growth rate, smaller cells, and twice the cell yield per glucose used. Flow cytometry analysis showed an increase of the DNA duplication rate in the mutant. Kinetic studies of86Rb+ uptake showed the same saturable system for wild-type and disruptant strains. Mutant cells also produced a greater acidification of the medium coincident with an internal pH alkalinization and showed a higher oxygen consumption velocity. We speculate that higher K+ accumulation and increased osmotic pressure accelerate the cell cycle and metabolic activity.