Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ty1 retrovirus-like element Gag contains overlapping restriction factor and nucleic acid chaperone functions

Ty1 Gag comprises the capsid of virus-like particles and provides nucleic acid chaperone (NAC) functions during retrotransposition in budding yeast. A subgenomic Ty1 mRNA encodes a truncated Gag protein (p22) that is cleaved by Ty1 protease to form p18. p22/p18 strongly inhibits transposition and can be considered an element-encoded restriction factor. Here, we show that only p22 and its short derivatives restrict Ty1 mobility whereas other regions of GAG inhibit mobility weakly if at all. Mutational analyses suggest that p22/p18 is synthesized from either of two closely spaced AUG codons. Interestingly, AUG1p18 and AUG2p18 proteins display different properties, even though both contain a region crucial for RNA binding and NAC activity. AUG1p18 shows highly reduced NAC activity but specific binding to Ty1 RNA, whereas AUG2p18 shows the converse behavior. p22/p18 affects RNA encapsidation and a mutant derivative defective for RNA binding inhibits the RNA chaperone activity of the C-terminal region (CTR) of Gag-p45. Moreover, affinity pulldowns show that p18 and the CTR interact. These results support the idea that one aspect of Ty1 restriction involves inhibition of Gag-p45 NAC functions by p22/p18-Gag interactions.
The Fetal Thyroid: Normal and Abnormal Sonographic Measurements

The thyroid of 31 fetuses at low risk for perinatal thyroid disease were evaluated sonographically. The transverse width and circumference of the fetal thyroid was measured prospectively to provide normative values for each gestational age. In addition, the thyroid of 23 fetuses at risk for thyroid disease were examined sonographically and compared to the control group. At birth, 18 of the neonates had no evidence of thyroid dysfunction, whereas 5 newborns had goiters and abnormal thyroid function. The fetal thyroid measurements for these 5 neonates were above the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval compared to the control group. The other 18 fetuses in the group at risk for thyroid disease but without evidence of thyroid dysfunction at birth had fetal thyroid measurement within the normal range.
Endoscopic Ultrasonography - Technique, Orientation and Diagnostic Possibilities

40 patients were examined by peroral endoscopic ultrasonography with two new prototypes (Prototype II and III, Olympus Optical Co., Tokyo, Japan). Indications were various intestinal diseases. Topographical orientation was facilitated by standard positions of the instrument. The organs identified included liver, gall bladder, common bile duct, pancreas, spleen and kidneys. Pathological lesions of the organs mentioned were characterized by the echo pattern known from external ultrasonography. At present endoscopic ultrasonography is not a routine method but may provide additional information to peroral endoscopy and external ultrasonography without replacing these methods.
Topical Corticosteroids and Hospital Length of Stay in Children with Eczema Herpeticum

Abstract: There is concern that the use of topical corticosteroids in patients with eczema herpeticum may facilitate dissemination of herpes simplex virus and worsen disease. Our primary aim therefore was to determine whether topical corticosteroid use in children hospitalized with eczema herpeticum is associated with longer hospital length of stay (LOS). We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of 1,331 children ages 2 months to 17 years admitted with a diagnosis of eczema herpeticum between January 1, 2001, and March 31, 2010, to 42 tertiary care children’s hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System database. Multivariable linear regression models determined the association between receipt of topical corticosteroid therapy on the first day of hospitalization and the main outcome measure: LOS. Receipt of topical corticosteroid therapy on day 1 of hospitalization was not associated with a longer LOS on unadjusted or multivariable analysis (p = 0.75). Receipt of topical calcineurin inhibitors during the hospitalization was also not associated with a longer LOS (p = 0.12). Receipt of systemic corticosteroids was associated with an 18% adjusted longer LOS (95% confidence interval 2%–36%; p = 0.03). Further study is needed to identify which children with eczema herpeticum may benefit from topical corticosteroids, but their use during active infection is not associated with poorer outcomes, although the use of systemic corticosteroids was associated with a longer LOS and should be avoided in patients with eczema herpeticum pending future prospective study.
A Zeroing Cell-to-Cell Interference Page Architecture With Temporary LSB Storing and Parallel MSB Program Scheme for MLC NAND Flash Memories

A new MLC NAND page architecture is presented as a breakthrough solution for sub-40-nm MLC NAND flash memories and beyond. To reduce cell-to-cell interference which is well known as the most critical scaling barrier for NAND flash memories, a novel page architecture including temporary LSB storing program and parallel MSB program schemes is proposed. A BL voltage modulated ISPP scheme was used as parallel MSB programming in order to reduce cell-to-cell interference caused by the order in which the cells are programmed. By adopting the proposed page architecture, the number of neighbor cells that are programmed after programming a selected cell in BL direction as well as their amount of T/th shift during programming can be suppressed largely without increasing memory array size. Compared to conventional architecture it leads to a reduction of BL-BL cell-to-cell interference by almost 100%, and of WL-WL and diagonal cell-to-cell interferences by 50% at the 60 nm technology node. The proposed architecture enables also to improve average MLC program speed performance by 11% compared with conventional architecture, thanks to its fast LSB program performance.
Secrecy outage performance for partial relay selection schemes in cooperative systems

In this study, secrecy outage performance is studied for partial relay selection (PRS) schemes in cooperative systems over Rayleigh fading channels. In the considered systems, there are one source (S), one destination (D), one eavesdropper, one jammer that can send interference to the eavesdropper, and N (N > 1) relay candidates, one of which is selected as the relay (R). By considering the practical scenarios and to protect the transmitted information over R–D link from being eavesdropped, the authors propose a new transmission scheme: let D send random information to R while S sending information to R. Then, R processes the messages from S and D by XOR operation in order to prevent the eavesdropper's interception while the information is delivered between R and D. They study the secrecy outage performance for two PRS schemes: (i) the optimal source–relay link (OSRL) scheme; and (ii) the optimal source–relay–destination link (OSRDL) scheme. The closed-form expressions for the secrecy outage probability (SOP) of the two PRS schemes are derived, as well as the closed-form upper bound for SOP under OSRL scheme and the lower bound for SOP under OSRDL scheme. Finally, simulation results are given to verify the presented analytical models and the proposed transmission scheme.
Configurable meta-search in the job domain

We have developed a configurable meta-search engine for the human resource domain which aims to aid job seekers in searching for job vacancies and to support meta-search providers in the rapid development of meta-search engines. A significant challenge in accessing heterogeneous, distributed information via meta-search engines is the schema/data matching and integration that is needed for resolving semantic heterogeneities between different source search engines. We adopt a hybrid approach, using multiple matching criteria and matchers. A domain-specific ontology serves as a global ontology. Mappings are derived between this and the source search engine interfaces. These mappings are used to generate an integrated meta-search query interface, support query processing in the meta-search engine, and resolve semantic conflicts arising during result extraction from the source search engines. Experiments conducted in the job search domain show that our hybrid approach increases the correctness of matching during the integration of source search interfaces.
Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase alpha (PIPKα) regulates neuronal microtubule depolymerase kinesin, KIF2A and suppresses elongation of axon branches

Neuronal morphology is regulated by cytoskeletons. Kinesin superfamily protein 2A (KIF2A) depolymerizes microtubules (MTs) at growth cones and regulates axon pathfinding. The factors controlling KIF2A in neurite development remain totally elusive. Here, using immunoprecipitation with an antibody specific to KIF2A, we identified phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase alpha (PIPKα) as a candidate membrane protein that regulates the activity of KIF2A. Yeast two-hybrid and biochemical assays demonstrated direct binding between KIF2A and PIPKα. Partial colocalization of the clusters of punctate signals for these two molecules was detected by confocal microscopy and photoactivated localization microscopy. Additionally, the MT-depolymerizing activity of KIF2A was enhanced in the presence of PIPKα in vitro and in vivo. PIPKα suppressed the elongation of axon branches in a KIF2A-dependent manner, suggesting a unique PIPK-mediated mechanism controlling MT dynamics in neuronal development.
Immunoassays for testosterone in women: better than a guess?

Recent developments in the field of mass spectrometry have provided the accuracy and sensitivity to evaluate very-low-abundance steroids such as testosterone in female and pediatric patients. In this issue of Clinical Chemistry , Taieb et al. (1) present the most comprehensive evaluation of automated testosterone immunoassays to date. They compared 10 commercially available immunoassays with isotope-dilution gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (ID-GC/MS) and reached the inescapable conclusion that testosterone immunoassay results for specimens from females are inaccurate. Similar data have been reported for individual testosterone immunoassays previously (2), but Taieb et al. (1) are the first to show that for every commercially available testosterone assay studied, the values are in error—by a factor of 2 on average and in some cases by a factor of almost 5. Are assays that miss target values by 200–500% meaningful? Guessing would be more accurate and additionally could provide cheaper and faster testosterone results for females—without even having to draw the patient’s blood. By limiting all guesses to a narrow range, e.g., 2.04–2.44 nmol/L, the results would rarely be off by more than a factor of 3. Using a random number generator, we generated values close to the average female concentration measured by Taieb et al. (they were kind …
Joint adaptive waveform design and direction-of-arrival tracking

The ability to adapt waveforms to the changing properties of targets is a very important feature for radars. Adaptive waveform design can improve the estimation and tracking of targets dramatically. In this paper we propose a joint scheme for adaptive multiple waveforms design and multi-target parameter estimation and tracking for extended targets. We combine our previous work on information theoretic waveform design for multiple extended targets with an iterative joint direction-of-arrival and target frequency response estimation. The results can improve wide band high range resolution (HRR) applications. The method is computationally attractive, since the waveform design stage involves convex optimization. The performance gains of the adaptive design process are demonstrated in simulations. The proposed algorithm shows benefits of 2-3 dB compared to flat spectrum waveform in terms of received SNR, and yields better resolution capability due to the adaptive waveform design.
Distribution and colocalization of choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity and NADPH diaphorase reactivity in neurons within the medial septum and diagonal band of broca in the rat basal forebrain

NADPH diaphorase histochemistry and choline acetyltransferase immunocytochemistry were used to assess quantitatively the presence of nitric oxide synthase in the cholinergic neurons ofthe magnocellular basal forebrain complex. Virtually all (97%) NADPH diaphorase reactive magnocellular neurons in the medial septum and the vertical and horizontal limbs of the diagonal band of Broca were choline acetyltransferase immunoreactive, whereas only a proportion ofthe choline acetyltransferase immunoreactive neurons were NADPH diaphorase reactive. Thus NADPH diaphorase histochemistry identified a population ofthe magnocellular cholinergic neurons. Occasionally, NADPH diaphorase reactive neurons were observed within the medial septum and diagonal band of Broca that were not choline acetyltransferase immunoreactive, and in general were morphologically distinct from the magnocellular neurons; such neurons are probably representatives within the medial septum and diagonal band of more widely distributed phenotypically distinct populations of NADPH diaphorase reactive neurons. The proportions of the neurons in which choline acetyltransferase and NADPH diaphorase colocalized in the medial septum and in the diagonal bands of Broca were similar in any one coronal section, but there was a considerable difference in the proportions throughout the rostrocaudal extent oi these nuclei. In the most rostral sections of the medial septum and diagonal band, approximately 70% of the choline acetyltransferase immunoreactive neurons were NADPH diaphorase reactive, whereas the proportion decreased progressively to about 30% at the level ofthe decussation ofthe anterior commissure. To examine further the extent of colocalization throughout the magnocellular basal forebrain complex, sections ofthe magnocellular preoptic nucleus, substantia innominata, and nucleus basalis magnocellularis were examined. While there was little total colocalization of choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity and NADPH diaphorase reactivity in any particular section (approximately 18%), almost all of the double labelied neurons were in the substantia innominata, with very few in the other nuclei. Thus although there is a caudal to rostral gradient of the proportion of magnocellular cholinergic neurons that are NADPH diaphorase reactive throughout the entire basal forebrain magnocellular complex, subregions, such as the substantia innominata and magnocellular preoptic nucleus, may not follow this trend. The recent demonstration that the NADPH diaphorase histochemical reaction localizes a nitric oxide synthase suggests that attention should be given to the NADPH diaphorase Subpopulation ‐in pathological and experimentally induced alterations of the basal forebrain. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A comparison for probabilistic spiking neuron model and spiking integrated and fired neuron model

As the third generation of artificial neural networks (ANNs), spiking neural networks (SNNs) have many advantages over the traditional ones. Selecting proper spiking neuron models for the design of SNNs is important. In this paper, schematic and training algorithm of spiking integrated and fired (IAF) neuron model and probability spiking neuron model (pSNM) are introduced. By comparing the classification results for mobile robots' corridor-scene-classifier based on IAF model and pSNM, and the control results of mobile robots' wall-following controller based on spiking IAF model and pSNM, the similarities and differences between the two models are discussed. The similar and different features of the two spiking neuron models are obtained. IAF model is more suitable for the design of mobile robots controller than that of pSNM. While pSNM has better noise robust than IAF model. Spiking IAF model and pSNM are suitable for different situations.
Relating Recycling: Demographics, Attitudes, Knowledge and Recycling Behavior among UC Berkeley Students

Using a standardized questionnaire, I surveyed 200 students from the University of California, Berkeley to determine the relationship between demographics, attitudes, and knowledge and recycling behavior among undergraduates. In the questionnaire, participants were asked to provide demographic information, their attitudes about the environment and recycling, knowledge of proper recycling techniques and their recycling practices. Significant associations were found between recycling behavior and the demographic variables of year, race and major. Significant correlations were found between attitudes and recycling behavior, as well as a slightly higher correlation found between knowledge and recycling behavior. The correlation evidence suggests that knowledge on how to properly recycle is the most effective of the examined factors as an indicator of an individual’s likelihood of recycling. The implications of study results on recycling behavior theory and recycling policy are explored, including addressing the benefit of information on factors affecting recycling behavior when developing recycling campaigns for a given population.
A novel nonlinear backstepping-based control approach for quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle transportation systems

In this paper, a novel control scheme is proposed for quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transportation systems. The proposed control law successfully achieves efficient quadrotor transferring and rapid swing elimination simultaneously. Specially, by analyzing the interconnected form of the system, the virtual control input for the outer loop is constructed via an energy-based analysis method, so as to compute the applied thrust and the desired roll angle of the quadrotor. As for the inner loop, a backstepping control method is utilized without the introduction of the time-scale separation principle, and the equilibrium point of the overall close-loop system is proven to be asymptotically stable by Lyapunov techniques and LaSalle's invariance theorem. Simulation results demonstrate the proposed control law's superior performance and good robustness against various uncertainties.
A Multimodal Hand Vein, Hand Geometry, and Fingerprint Prototype Design for High Security Biometrics

Prior research evidenced that the unimodal biometric systems have several tradeoffs like noisy data, intra-class variations, restricted degrees of freedom, non-universality, spoof attacks, and unacceptable error rates. In order for the biometric system to be more secure and to provide higher accuracy, more than one form of biometrics are required. Hence, the need arise for multimodal biometrics using combinations of different biometric modalities. We describe the design and development of whole hands biometrics prototype system that acquires left and right (L/R) index and ring fingerprints (FP), L/R near-infra-red (NIR) dorsal hand vein (HV) patterns, and L/R NIR dorsal hand geometry (HG) shape. Large database of 500-1000 subjects for whole hands is planned for data collection. The acquired sample images were found to have good quality for all features and patterns extraction to all modalities. The designed prototype can be considered for authentication and identification purposes. Advantages of this system over few existing multimodal systems are its being very hard to spoof attacks on the sensory level and the NIR HV and NIR HG thermal images are good signals for liveness detection.
Collateral and its Determinants: Evidence from Vietnam

This paper analyses the determinants of collateral in loans granted to entrepreneurs and consumers. We use cross-sectional data on more than 39,000 bank loans raised by Vietnamese borrowers between 2006 and 2009. Our data set is unique because it contains information about the bank's assessment of the borrower's ex ante risk and the borrowers' wealth including pledged as well as unpledged assets. We find that observationally riskier borrowers, as measured by the bank through the ex ante risk score, are more likely to pledge collateral. At the same time, wealthier borrowers are more likely to pledge collateral in order to benefit from a reduction in their interest costs. We also present evidence on other determinants of collateral such as borrower-lender relationship, credit market competition, and institutions.
COMPARISON OF THE MORPHOLOGY OF PPLO AND L‐FORMS OF BACTERIA WITH LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY *

One of us discussed the morphology of PPLO and of L-forms of bacteria in 1959 at the first conference on the biology of the pleuropneumonia-like organisms at this Academy' and a few years later at the International Congress for Microbiology in Montreal.2 His impressions of the morphology of these organisms and of the similarity between the two groups has been reinforced by recent work. To us, this similarity is one of the most interesting properties of both groups of organisms. Improvement in the technique of electron microscopy made possible a detailed study of the structure of these organisms. Furthermore, the extension of the study to the L-forms to more bacterial species in various environments has brought out new aspects of the . similarity between the two groups. However, the opinions of experienced investigators on some points of morphology and on the significance of the similarity between PPLO and L-forms have remained as divergent as ever. Thus, a new survey of this field based on recent observations is not without interest. We present in this paper a short account of our observations pertinent to these problems and will comment on some of the controversial points of morphology and on a few observations that may have importance for the study of these organisms. A detailed description of our observations is in preparation. The contents of this paper are arranged as follows: 1. Ultrastructure and morphology 2. Reproduction 3. Influence of environment on growth and morphology 4. Growth and structure of colonies on agar media 5. Permanent variations 6. Controversial points such as the development of long chains and filaments, the nature of the large bodies and the isolation of PPLO-like cultures from L-forms.
Nursing Bedside Dysphagia Screen: Is it Valid?

ABSTRACT: Screening for dysphagia on stroke patient admissions in a timely manner, with early risk identification, and implementation of appropriate oral intake measures is a priority to reduce negative patient outcomes. Containing patient and facility costs, along with reducing length of stay, is a priority for all healthcare institutions. To ensure the provision of care at our facility was consistent with these priorities, we reviewed our processes and looked for opportunities for improvement. Assuring we had a reliable and valid nursing bedside screening tool for dysphagia was identified as a priority. We designed a study to answer the questions of validity and reliability. The findings suggest that our facility-developed Nursing Bedside Dysphagia Screen is a valid and reliable tool to help identify patients with stroke who are at risk for aspiration pneumonia.