Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
7‐2/MRP RNAs in plant and mammalian cells: association with higher order structures in the nucleolus.

Mammalian MRP (for mitochondrial RNA processing) RNA, also known as 7‐2 RNA, is a nuclear encoded small RNA which has been reported to function in two different cellular compartments: in the mitochondria and in the nucleus. The ribonucleoprotein particle which contains the 7‐2/MRP RNA, called RNase MRP, has ribonucleolytic activity and shares some structural similarity with RNase P. It has been proposed that in mitochondria, the RNase MRP is responsible for endonucleolytic cleavage of primer RNA during DNA replication. We have characterized the gene and cDNAs encoding 7‐2/MRP‐like RNA in Arabidopsis and tobacco, and found that in plants this RNA is enriched in nucleoli but is undetectable in purified mitochondria isolated from tobacco leaves or cells grown in suspension. In glycerol gradients tobacco 7‐2/MRP RNA cosediments with large approximately 80S structures possibly representing ribosomal precursors. Fractionation of HeLa cells has also revealed that 7‐2/MRP resides in the nucleolus and that most of it is associated with complexes sedimenting at approximately 80S, similar to those containing the U3 nucleolar RNA which is known to participate in pre‐rRNA processing. These results indicate that the 7‐2/MRP ribonucleoparticle may be involved in ribosome biogenesis, in both plant and mammalian cells.
A micro biuret method for protein determination; determination of total protein in cerebrospinal fluid.

A rapid and convenient colorimetric method for the determination of small amounts of protein, based on the biuret reaction and readings at 330 mμ, is described. The “micromethod” allows the determination of 10 to 200 mg per cent protein with an acurassy of ± 1.5 mg per cent. An “ultra micro” modification allows determinations of 10 to 400 micrograms protein.The method is applied for the determination of total protein in 1 ml of cerebrospinal fluid.
A Broadband Low-Profile Dual-Linearly Polarized Dipole-Driven Metasurface Antenna

A low-profile broadband metasurface antenna (MSA) with dual-linear polarization is developed. The developed MSA mainly consists of a 4 × 4 grid-slotted patch array, two pairs of orthogonally printed feeding dipole strips, two vertically grounded and orthogonally placed microstrip Γ-shaped feeding structures, and an intact ground plane. It is demonstrated that the strip-excited MSA excites a leaky wave mode, a surface wave mode, and a dipole mode to provide a wide operational bandwidth. The prototype, with an overall size of 0.65 λ0 × 0.65 λ0 × 0.07 λ0 (λ0 is the wavelength in free space at the center operating frequency) was fabricated and measured. Three modes with broadside radiation patterns for each port are simultaneously excited to create a wide impedance bandwidth 36% with the average gain value 9.3 dBi. Moreover, the port-to-port isolation and the cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) are, respectively, higher than 26 and 25 dB.
Control Allocation of Bidirectional Thrust Quadrotor Subject to Actuator Constraints

In this paper, we work with a quadrotor vehicle capable of producing bidirectional thrust by reversing the rotation of its propellers. These vehicles have a number of unique functions, such as inverted hover, faster than gravity acceleration for descent and, generally, superior agility compared to their unidirectional conventional designs. However, thrust reversal presents a set of unique challenges for controlling these vehicles due to the particular transient dynamics of the propellers as they transition from positive to negative rotation. To deal with the limitations of bidirectional actuators, we propose an optimal control allocation strategy that produces the best match to the desired force and moments prescribed by the controller, while respecting the limits on actuator thrusts and their rate of change. The latter are identified through transient response characterization of the bidirectional propellers. The optimal allocation is evaluated in simulation for a half-flip maneuver between upright and inverted hover. Outdoor flight tests demonstrate the superior performance of the optimal solution as compared to direct inversion commonly used in flight controllers of quadrotors.
An Efficient Evolutionary Algorithm for Locating Long-Term Care Facilities

This paper deals with a variant of a discrete location problem of establishing long-term care facilities in a given network. The objective is to determine optimal locations for these facilities in order to minimize the maximum number of assigned patients to a single facility. We propose an efficient evolutionary approach (EA) for solving this problem, based on binary encoding, appropriate objective function and standard genetic operators. Unfeasible individuals in the population are corrected to be feasible, while applied EA strategies keep the feasibility of individuals and preserve the diversity of genetic material. The algorithm is benchmarked on a real-life test instance with 33 nodes and the obtained results are compared with the existing ones from the literature. The EA is additionally tested on new problem instances derived from the standard ORLIB AP hub data set with up to 400 potential locations. For the first time in the literature we report verified optimal solutions for most of the tested problem instances with up to 80 nodes obtained by the standard optimization tool CPLEX. Exhaustive computational experiments show that the EA approach quickly returns all optimal solutions for smaller problem instances, while large-scale instances are solved in a relatively short CPU time. The results obtained on the test problems of practical sizes clearly indicate the potential of the proposed evolutionary-based method for solving this problem and similar discrete location problems. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.itc. 41.1. 1115
Trends in Pregnancy Rates Among Women With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

OBJECTIVE: To describe factors associated with pregnancy and trends in pregnancy rates among women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) before and after the release of U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Use of Zidovudine and the Increased Availability of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy. METHODS: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected women aged 15 to 44 years who were enrolled in the Adult/Adolescent Spectrum of HIV Disease Project, a medical records cohort study of HIV-infected persons conducted in more than 100 U.S. health care facilities. RESULTS: Among 8,857 women, there were 1,185 incident pregnancies during 21,617 person-years of follow-up from 1992 through 2001. Pregnancy rate at enrollment was 16%; thereafter, an average of 5.5% of women became pregnant annually. Pregnancies were more likely to occur in women aged 15 to 24 years (adjusted rate ratio [RR] 9.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.4, 11.3) and 25 to 34 years (adjusted RR 4.0; 95% CI 3.3, 4.9) than in women aged 35 to 44 years. Pregnancies were less likely to occur in women with a history of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)–opportunistic illness (adjusted RR 0.4; 95% CI 0.3, 0.5) or a CD4 count below 200 cells/μL and no opportunistic illness (adjusted RR 0.6; 95% CI 0.5, 0.7) than in women with HIV but not AIDS. Higher rates of pregnancy were observed for women prescribed highly active antiretroviral therapy (adjusted RR 1.3; 95% CI 1.0, 1.6) than women prescribed other regimens of antiretroviral therapy. There were significantly higher rates of pregnancy during 1997 through 2001. CONCLUSION: The increase in pregnancy rates during the era of widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy illustrates the continued need for comprehensive prevention and treatment services. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2
Impact of Swarm Intelligence Techniques in Diabetes Disease Risk Prediction

Diabetes has affected over 246 million people worldwide and by 2025 it is expected to rise to over 380 million. With the rise of information technology and its continued advent into the medical and healthcare sector, different symptoms of diabetes are being documented. The techniques inspired from the distributed collective behavior of social colonies have shown worth and excellence in dealing with complex optimization problems and are becoming more popular nowadays. It can be used as an effective problem solving tool for identifying diabetes disease risks. This paper aims at finding solutions to diagnose the disease by analyzing the patterns found in data through various swarm optimization techniques by employing Support Vector Machines and Naive Bayes algorithms. It proposes a quicker and more efficient technique of diagnosing the disease, leading to timely treatment of the patients.
The NOMS framework: approach to the treatment of spinal metastatic tumors.

BACKGROUND Spinal metastases frequently arise in patients with cancer. Modern oncology provides numerous treatment options that include effective systemic, radiation, and surgical options. We delineate and provide the evidence for the neurologic, oncologic, mechanical, and systemic (NOMS) decision framework, which is used at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to determine the optimal therapy for patients with spine metastases. METHODS We provide a literature review of the integral publications that serve as the basis for the NOMS framework and report the results of systematic implementation of the NOMS-guided treatment. RESULTS The NOMS decision framework consists of the neurologic, oncologic, mechanical, and systemic considerations and incorporates the use of conventional external beam radiation, spinal stereotactic radiosurgery, and minimally invasive and open surgical interventions. Review of radiation oncology and surgical literature that examine the outcomes of treatment of spinal metastatic tumors provides support for the NOMS decision framework. Application of the NOMS paradigm integrates multimodality therapy to optimize local tumor control, pain relief, and restoration or preservation of neurologic function and minimizes morbidity in this often systemically ill patient population. CONCLUSION NOMS paradigm provides a decision framework that incorporates sentinel decision points in the treatment of spinal metastases. Consideration of the tumor sensitivity to radiation in conjunction with the extent of epidural extension allows determination of the optimal radiation treatment and the need for surgical decompression. Mechanical stability of the spine and the systemic disease considerations further help determine the need and the feasibility of surgical intervention.
Cognitive function in early psychosis patients from a lower middle-income country

Abstract Objectives: To establish evidence of cognitive changes in early psychosis (EP) patients compared to healthy controls (HC) in Pakistan. Methods: Fifty-one participants with EP were recruited from psychiatric units in Karachi and Rawalpindi, Pakistan and matched with 51 HC. Neurocognitive domains were assessed using standardised neuropsychological tests [the Stroop test, block design, Matrix Reasoning, picture completion, object assembly, oral fluency, memory for design, Coughlan learning task (verbal and visual)]. Results: EP patients had higher scores than controls for both Stroop tests (T1: EP = 122 HC = 65, p <.001; T2: EP = 190 HC = 153, p = .007) and memory for design test (EP = 10 HC = 3, p = .005). EP group had lower values for block design (EP = 4, HC = 11, p = .01), category fluency (EP = 18.9, HC = 26.1, p < .001), Coughlan verbal tasks (EP = 36.4 NC = 51.5, p < .001), matrix reasoning (EP = 4 NC = 10, p < .001), picture completion (EP = 4 NC = 6, p = .003) and object assembly (EP = 10.7, HC = 15.5, p = .002). There were limited significant associations between cognitive performance and PANSS scores. Conclusions: Reduced cognitive performance was found across multiple domains in Pakistani EP patients, which suggests that impaired cognitive performance is homogenous in patients with schizophrenia, regardless of ethnicity.
First verified record of the ant genus Calyptomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from India, along with a revised key to known Indomalayan species

Abstract Background The members of genus Calyptomyrmex are mostly encountered under rotten logs, in the soil, under stones and in leaf litter samples. These ants are seldom in collections making estimation of their true distributional patterns problematic (Shattuck 2011). The deep antennal scrobes and the unique configuration of the clypeus are distinct to the genus (Bolton 1981). New information Herein Calyptomyrmex wittmeri Baroni Urbani, 1975 is redescribed and reported for the first time from India. This also confirms the first valid published record of the genus from the country. The image hosted by AntWeb as C. vedda (CASENT0280817; AntWeb 2015b) collected by Besuchet, Löbl, Mussard from Kerala, India and identified by Brown is actually C. wittmeri (Brown was uncertain of his determination of C. vedda and cautiously inserted an interrogation point in front of his determination). Two workers recently collected at Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Kerala present similarities to the specimen identified by Brown. However, characters as the lack of well-developed promesonotal suture, absence of clavate setae, and narrow petiolar node, concur with the diagnosis of C. wittmeri. A revised key to known Indomalayan species of the genus is provided herewith.
Evaluating Predictive Models of Student Success: Closing the Methodological Gap

Model evaluation – the process of making inferences about the performance of predictive models – is a critical component of predictive model-ing research in learning analytics. In this work, we present an overview of the state-of-the-practice of model evaluation in learning analytics, which overwhelmingly uses only na ̈ıve methods for model evaluation or, less commonly, statistical tests which are not appropriate for predictive model evaluation. We then provide an overview of more appropriate methods for model evaluation, presenting both frequentist and a preferred Bayesian method. Finally, we apply three methods – the na ̈ıve average commonly used in learning analytics, frequentist null hypothesis significance test(NHST), and hierarchical Bayesian model evaluation – to a large set ofMOOC data. We compare 96 different predictive modeling techniques,including different feature sets, statistical modeling algorithms, and tuning hyperparameters for each, using this case study to demonstrate the different experimental conclusions these evaluation techniques provide.
High power factor dimmable self-oscillating electronic ballast with variable inductor control

This paper presents a new high power factor dimmable self-oscillating electronic ballast (DSOEB), in which a variable inductor (VI) is used to control the fluorescent lamp (FL) power. Two different approaches are proposed to provide a wide dimming range using a self-oscillating electronic ballast, and a power factor correction (PFC) stage. In the first one, the VI is placed in the series resonant parallel-loaded filter (SRPLI), controlling the rms value of the lamp current with the dc bus voltage supplied by the PFC stage in a closed loop, and in the second one, the VI is placed in the PFC stage, controlling directly the power feeding the inverter. Experimental results for both topologies are presented to evaluate the preliminary performance of the circuit for a 32 W FL.
Systemic T cell adoptive immunotherapy of malignant gliomas.

OBJECT To determine the feasibility, toxicity, and potential therapeutic benefits of systemic adoptive immunotherapy, 10 patients with progressive primary or recurrent malignant glioma received this treatment. Adoptive immunotherapy, the transfer of immune T lymphocytes, is capable of mediating the regression of experimental brain tumors in animal models. In animal models, lymph nodes (LNs) that drain the tumor vaccine site are a rich source of tumor-immune T cells. METHODS In this clinical study, patients were inoculated intradermally with irradiated autologous tumor cells and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor as an adjuvant. Cells from draining inguinal LNs, surgically resected 7 days after vaccination, were stimulated sequentially with staphylococcal enterotoxin A and anti-CD3, and a low dose of interleukin-2 (60 IU/ml) was used to expand the stimulated cells. The maximum cell proliferation was 350-fold over 10 days of culture. The activated cells were virtually all T cells consisting of various proportions of CD4 and CD8 cells. These cells were given to patients by intravenous infusion at doses ranging from 9 x 10(8) to 1.5 x 10(11). There were no Grade 3 or 4 toxicities associated with the treatment. Following T-cell transfer therapy, radiographic regression that lasted at least 6 months was demonstrated in two patients with recurrent tumors. One patient demonstrated stable disease that has lasted for more than 17 months. The remaining patients had progressive disease; however, four of the eight patients with recurrent tumor remain alive more than 1 year after surgery for recurrence. Three patients required intervention with corticosteroid agents or additional surgery approximately 1 month following cell transfer. CONCLUSIONS These intriguing clinical observations warrant further trials to determine whether this approach can provide therapeutic benefits and improve survival.
Extending the income inequality hypothesis: Ecological results from the 2005 and 2009 Argentine National Risk Factor Surveys

Abstract A consensus on income inequality as a social determinant of health is yet to be reached. In particular, we know little about the cross-sectional versus lagged effect of inequality and the robustness of the relationship to indicators that are sensitive to varying parts of the income spectrum. We test these issues with data from Argentina's 2005 and 2009 National Risk Factor Surveys. Inequality was operationalised at the provincial level with the Gini coefficient and the Generalised Entropy (GE) index. Population health was defined as the age-standardised percentage of adults with poor/fair self-rated health by province. Our cross-sectional results indicate a significant relationship between inequality (Gini) and poor health (r=0.58, p<0.01) in 2005. Using the GE index, a gradient pattern emerges in the correlation, and the r values increase as the index becomes sensitive to the top of the distribution. The relationship between 2005 inequality and 2009 health displays a similar pattern, but with generally smaller correlations than the 2005 cross-sectional results. Further advances in the income inequality and health literature require new theoretical models to account for how inequalities in different parts of the income spectrum may influence population health in different ways.
Slotted ALOHA mobile packet communication systems with multiuser detection in a base station

A slotted ALOHA mobile packet communication system utilizing the multiuser detection (MD) is proposed for system enhancement. MD can be easily implemented by using an adaptive interference canceler. Employment of MD enables simultaneous detection of several collision packets, which results in system enhancement increasing the throughput and shortening the average delay time. Detailed theoretical analysis and computer simulation with a two-user simultaneous detection in a single-cell environment shows: (1) the throughput increases twice as much as the conventional one and (2) the average delay time decreases by 50%.
Computation of the Bit Error Rate of Coherent M-ary PSK with Gray Code Bit Mapping

Efficient computation of the bit error rate (BER) for the coherent M -ary PSK signals with Gray code bit mapping is considered. A closed-form expression for the exact BER of 8-ary PSK is presented. Tight upper and lower bounds on BER are also obtained for M -ary PSK with larger M .
Bird and bat species' global vulnerability to collision mortality at wind farms revealed through a trait-based assessment

Mitigation of anthropogenic climate change involves deployments of renewable energy worldwide, including wind farms, which can pose a significant collision risk to volant animals. Most studies into the collision risk between species and wind turbines, however, have taken place in industrialized countries. Potential effects for many locations and species therefore remain unclear. To redress this gap, we conducted a systematic literature review of recorded collisions between birds and bats and wind turbines within developed countries. We related collision rate to species-level traits and turbine characteristics to quantify the potential vulnerability of 9538 bird and 888 bat species globally. Avian collision rate was affected by migratory strategy, dispersal distance and habitat associations, and bat collision rates were influenced by dispersal distance. For birds and bats, larger turbine capacity (megawatts) increased collision rates; however, deploying a smaller number of large turbines with greater energy output reduced total collision risk per unit energy output, although bat mortality increased again with the largest turbines. Areas with high concentrations of vulnerable species were also identified, including migration corridors. Our results can therefore guide wind farm design and location to reduce the risk of large-scale animal mortality. This is the first quantitative global assessment of the relative collision vulnerability of species groups with wind turbines, providing valuable guidance for minimizing potentially serious negative impacts on biodiversity.
A systematic review of sensory processing interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders

Children with autism spectrum disorders often exhibit co-occurring sensory processing problems and receive interventions that target self-regulation. In current practice, sensory interventions apply different theoretic constructs, focus on different goals, use a variety of sensory modalities, and involve markedly disparate procedures. Previous reviews examined the effects of sensory interventions without acknowledging these inconsistencies. This systematic review examined the research evidence (2000–2012) of two forms of sensory interventions, sensory integration therapy and sensory-based intervention, for children with autism spectrum disorders and concurrent sensory processing problems. A total of 19 studies were reviewed: 5 examined the effects of sensory integration therapy and 14 sensory-based intervention. The studies defined sensory integration therapies as clinic-based interventions that use sensory-rich, child-directed activities to improve a child’s adaptive responses to sensory experiences. Two randomized controlled trials found positive effects for sensory integration therapy on child performance using Goal Attainment Scaling (effect sizes ranging from .72 to 1.62); other studies (Levels III–IV) found positive effects on reducing behaviors linked to sensory problems. Sensory-based interventions are characterized as classroom-based interventions that use single-sensory strategies, for example, weighted vests or therapy balls, to influence a child’s state of arousal. Few positive effects were found in sensory-based intervention studies. Studies of sensory-based interventions suggest that they may not be effective; however, they did not follow recommended protocols or target sensory processing problems. Although small randomized controlled trials resulted in positive effects for sensory integration therapies, additional rigorous trials using manualized protocols for sensory integration therapy are needed to evaluate effects for children with autism spectrum disorders and sensory processing problems.