Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developmental patterning of carbohydrate antigens during early embryogenesis of the chick: expression of antigens of the poly-N-acetyllactosamine series.

This report describes a striking temporal and spatial patterning of specific carbohydrate sequences in the developing chick embryo. By using oligosaccharide sequence-specific monoclonal antibodies as immunohistochemical reagents in conjunction with neuraminidase, it was possible to visualize the occurrence, as well as the changes in distribution, of oligosaccharides of the poly-N-acetyllactosamine series. These were (a) long-chain unbranched sequences reactive with anti-i Den, (b) long-chain branched sequences reactive with anti-I Step and (c) short-chain branched sequences reactive with anti-I Ma and (d) their sialylated forms. The salient observations with serial sections of embryos from the unincubated to the 17th stage were as follows. (1) A pronounced anteroposterior patterning appeared during neuroectodermal development, such that the long-chain unbranched and long-chain branched sequences, which were abundant on the ectoderm of the earlier stages, were replaced by short-chain branched sialo-oligosaccharides in the developing brain and anterior neural tube. (2) A striking anteroposterior and mediolateral patterning developed in the subectodermal extracellular spaces. The long-chain linear and short-chain non-sialylated sequences demarcated regions favourable for migration of the lateral plate mesoderm. (3) A distinction was made between the dorsal and ventral routes of the trunk neural crest in that the extracellular matrix of the dorsal route only was associated with long-chain linear and short-chain sialylated branched sequences. (4) A circumscribed perinotochordal distribution of the short-chain sialylated branched sequences was observed in the region of the future centra of the vertebrae. (5) An abundance of long-chain linear and long-chain sialylated branched structures was detected in primordial germ cells which permitted their identification during migration. These observations suggest that oligosaccharides of the poly-N-acetyllactosamine series may have roles as short-range, region-specific information factors during morphogenetic events that take place in the developing embryo, and they open the way to the search for recognition proteins (e.g. endogenous lectins) specific for each of these oligosaccharide structures.
Advanced cold molecule electron EDM

Measurement of a non-zero electric dipole moment (EDM) of the electron within a few orders of magnitude of the current best limit of |d_e| < 1.05 × 10^(−27) e⋅cm [1] would be an indication of physics beyond the Standard Model. The ACME Collaboration is searching for an electron EDM by performing a precision measurement of electron spin precession in the metastable H^3Δ_1 state of thorium monoxide (ThO) using a slow, cryogenic beam. We discuss the current status of the experiment. Based on a data set acquired from 14 hours of running time over a period of 2 days, we have achieved a 1-sigma statistical uncertainty of δd_e = 1 × 10^(−28) e⋅cm/√T, where T is the running time in days.
Dopant diffusion from p+-poly-Si into c-Si during thermal annealing

Passivating junctions, like hole-collecting p-polycrystalline silicon/SiOx/crystalline silicon junctions, need a thermal activation to activate their excellent passivation and contact properties. Here, the diffusion of boron from the highly doped poly-Si layer into the Si is often considered to compromise the passivation quality. In contrast we show that at least a slight diffusion of boron into the crystalline silicon is present for optimized annealing conditions. We achieve low emitter saturation current densities of 11 fA/cm2 for in situ p+ doped polysilicon deposited by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. Furthermore, we show that the polysilicon layer and the in- diffused region within the substrate are electrically connected.
Identification of a Conserved Ankyrin-binding Motif in the Family of Sodium Channel α Subunits*

Interactions with ankyrinG are crucial to the localization of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) at the axon initial segment and for neurons to initiate action potentials. However, the molecular nature of these interactions remains unclear. Here we report that VGSC-α, but not -β, subunits bind to ankyrinG using pull-down assays. Further dissection of this activity identifies a conserved 9-amino acid motif ((V/A)P(I/L)AXXE(S/D)D) required for ankyrinG binding. This motif is also required for the localization of chimeric neurofascin/sodium channel molecules to the initial segment of cultured hippocampal neurons. The conserved nature of this motif suggests that it functions to localize sodium channels to a variety of “excitable” membrane domains both inside and outside of the nervous system.
New physics and CP violation in singly Cabibbo suppressed D decays

We analyze various theoretical aspects of $CP$ violation in singly Cabibbo suppressed (SCS) $D$ meson decays, such as $D\ensuremath{\rightarrow}KK,\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}$. In particular, we explore the possibility that $CP$ asymmetries will be measured close to the present level of experimental sensitivity of $\mathcal{O}({10}^{\ensuremath{-}2})$. Such measurements would signal new physics. We make the following points: (i) The mechanism at work in neutral $D$ decays could be indirect or direct $CP$ violation (or both). (ii) One can experimentally distinguish between these possibilities. (iii) If the dominant $CP$ violation is indirect, then there are clear predictions for other modes. (iv) Tree-level direct $CP$ violation in various known models is constrained to be much smaller than ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$. (v) SCS decays, unlike Cabibbo favored or doubly Cabibbo suppressed decays, are sensitive to new contributions from QCD penguin operators and especially from chromomagnetic dipole operators. This point is illustrated with supersymmetric gluino-squark loops, which can yield direct $CP$ violating effects of $\mathcal{O}({10}^{\ensuremath{-}2})$.
Continuous-flow differential density flotation of coccidial oocysts and a comparison with other methods.

A continuous-flow differential density flotation (CFDDF) method is described for recover- ing coccidial oocysts free of fecal debris. Using decreasing molar concentrations of sucrose and a chem- ical centrifuge with an unperforated basket, oocysts are recovered from large quantities (> 10 liters) of unsieved fecal material. This method is compared with other commonly used flotation methods (coverslip flotation, gravity pan flotation, zonal gradients, and linear gradients). With the CFDDF method 85.4% of the total oocysts are recovered, the percentage sporulation in the harvested frac- tion is increased from 85.2 to 97.2%, and 1 liter of fecal suspension per man-hour can be processed. Other techniques require 13 to 41 man-hours per liter of fecal suspension (including sieving time) and recover only 40.5 to 65.7% of the total oocysts without increasing the percentage of sporulation.
Gastrocnemius myoelectric control of a robotic hip exoskeleton

In this paper we present a novel EMG-based assistive control strategy for lower-limb exoskeletons. An active pelvis orthosis (APO) generates torque profiles for the hip flexion motion assistance, according to the Gastrocnemius Medialis EMG signal. The strategy has been tested on one healthy subject: experimental results show that the user is able to reduce his muscular activation when the assistance is switched on with respect to the free walking condition.
The Influence of Age on the Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Training to Reduce Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Female Athletes

Background: In female athletes, sports-related injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) increase during adolescence and peak in incidence during the mid- to late teens. Although biomechanical investigations indicate that a potential window of opportunity exists for optimal timing for the initiation of integrative neuromuscular training (NMT) in young female athletes, the influence of the timing of initiation of these programs on the efficacy of ACL injury reduction has yet to be evaluated. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of the current report was to systematically review and synthesize the scientific literature regarding the influence of age of NMT implementation on the effectiveness for reduction of ACL injury incidence. The hypothesis tested was that NMT would show a greater effect in younger populations. Study Design: Meta-analysis; Level of evidence 1a. Methods: Data were pooled from 14 clinical trials that met the inclusion criteria of (1) number of ACL injuries reported; (2) NMT program used; (3) female participants were included; (4) investigations used prospective, controlled trials; and (5) age of participants was documented or was obtainable upon contact with the authors. A meta-analysis with odds ratio (OR) was used to compare the ratios of ACL injuries between intervention and control groups among differing age categorizations. Results: A meta-analysis of the 14 included studies demonstrated significantly greater knee injury reduction in female athletes who were categorized in the preventive NMT group compared with those who were in the control group (OR: 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.35, 0.83). Lower ACL injuries in mid-teens (OR 0.28; CI: 0.18, 0.42) compared with late teens (OR 0.48; CI: 0.21, 1.07) and early adults (OR 1.01; CI: 0.62, 1.64) were found in participants undergoing NMT. Conclusion: The findings of this meta-analysis revealed an age-related association between NMT implementation and reduction of ACL incidence. Both biomechanical and the current epidemiological data indicate that the potential window of opportunity for optimized ACL injury risk reduction may be before the onset of neuromuscular deficits and peak knee injury incidence in female athletes. Specifically, it may be optimal to initiate integrative NMT programs during early adolescence, before the period of altered mechanics that increase injury risk.
Servitization within a services firm ? The case of a payment solutions provider

This paper studies the servitization process of a payment solutions provider going through a unique transformation from an information systems operator to a competitive service firm. It faces a challenging transition process, which we argue is rather similar to ’servitizing’ in manufacturing firms. This study suggests that exploring and understanding the firm’s history and its path dependencies enables identifying and further analysis of the organizational inflexibilities that form the main hindrance to servitization. Studying the path facilitates recognizing the firm’s competitive advantage and conquering the challenges related to the transformation process.
Elements of the Polycomb Repressor SU(Z)12 Needed for Histone H3-K27 Methylation, the Interface with E(Z), and In Vivo Function

ABSTRACT Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is an essential chromatin-modifying enzyme that implements gene silencing. PRC2 methylates histone H3 on lysine-27 and is conserved from plants to flies to humans. In Drosophila melanogaster, PRC2 contains four core subunits: E(Z), SU(Z)12, ESC, and NURF55. E(Z) bears a SET domain that houses the enzyme active site. However, PRC2 activity depends upon critical inputs from SU(Z)12 and ESC. The stimulatory mechanisms are not understood. We present here functional dissection of the SU(Z)12 subunit. SU(Z)12 contains two highly conserved domains: an ∼140-amino-acid VEFS domain and a Cys2-His2 zinc finger (ZnF). Analysis of recombinant PRC2 bearing VEFS domain alterations, including some modeled after leukemia mutations, identifies distinct elements needed for SU(Z)12 assembly with E(Z) and stimulation of histone methyltransferase. The results define an extensive VEFS subdomain that organizes the SU(Z)12-E(Z) interface. Although the SU(Z)12 ZnF is not needed for methyltransferase in vitro, genetic rescue assays show that the ZnF is required in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitations reveal that this ZnF facilitates PRC2 binding to a genomic target. This study defines functionally critical SU(Z)12 elements, including key determinants of SU(Z)12-E(Z) communication. Together with recent findings, this illuminates PRC2 modulation by conserved inputs from its noncatalytic subunits.
Vertical Structure of Midlatitude Analysis and Forecast Errors

Abstract The dominant vertical structures for analysis and forecast errors are estimated in midlatitudes using a small ensemble of operational analyses. Errors for fixed locations in the central North Pacific and eastern North America are selected for comparing errors in regions with relatively low and high observation density, respectively. Results for these fixed locations are compared with results for zonal wavenumber 9, which provides a representative sample of baroclinic waves. This study focuses on deviations from the ensemble mean for meridional wind and temperature at 40°N; these quantities are chosen for simplicity and because they capture dynamical and thermodynamical aspects of midlatitude baroclinic waves. Results for the meridional wind show that analysis and forecast errors share the same dominant vertical structure as the analyses. This structure peaks near the tropopause and decays smoothly toward small values in the middle and lower troposphere. The dominant vertical structure for analysi.
A context-based approach to crop and scale video for broadcast applications

Within this paper an application is presented which automatically adapts SDTV (Standard Definition Television) sports productions to smaller displays through intelligent cropping and scaling. It crops regions of interest of sports productions based on a smart combination of production metadata and systematic video analysis methods. This allows a context-based repurposing. It provides a differentiation between the original SD-version of the production and the processed one adapted to the requirements for mobile TV.
Quantifying Separate and Unequal

Researchers measuring racial inequality of neighborhood environment across metropolitan areas have traditionally used segregation measures; yet such measures are limited for incorporating a third axis of information, including neighborhood opportunity. Using Census 2000 tract-level data for the largest U.S. metropolitan areas, the authors introduce the interquartile-range overlap statistic to summarize the substantial separation of entire distributions of neighborhood environments between racial groups. They find that neighborhood poverty distributions for minorities overlap only 27%, compared to the distributions for Whites. Furthermore, the separation of racial groups into neighborhoods of differing poverty rates is strongly correlated with racial residential segregation. The overlap statistic provides a straightforward, policy-relevant metric for monitoring progress toward achieving more equal environments of neighborhood opportunity space.
F-Timer: dedicated FPGA to real-time systems design support

This paper presents a hardware architecture and its FPGA implementation for real-time operating systems support. Dedicated hardware units are responsible for the maintenance of a 32 tasks list organized by time priority. The co-processor also communicates with the microprocessor to program interrupt modes and tasks. This dedicated HW architecture was easily prototyped in modern FPGAs, being a cost-effective solution to free microcontrollers from the burden of task time management. The FPGA has been completely synthesized based on a HDL description, allowing its use as a macrocell in larger designs. The task resolution is of 100 /spl mu/s.
Low-dose spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section

Purpose of review The literature on the appropriate dose of local anaesthetic and combinations with opioids for spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section in patients without comorbid conditions is reviewed. The controversial issue of spinal anaesthesia in severe preeclampsia is also addressed. Recent findings Recent comparisons with ropivacaine and levobupivacaine suggest that bupivacaine remains the best agent for spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section. The addition of various combinations of opioids has allowed a reduction in the dose of bupivacaine. Intrathecal diamorphine has been extensively investigated and appears to have a favourable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile. In severe preeclampsia, spinal anaesthesia may be associated with less hypotension than in healthy parturients, where similar doses of local anaesthetic are used. Summary Low-dose spinal anaesthesia has been advocated in the interests of improving cardiovascular stability. However, current sophistication of knowledge concerning spinal anaesthetic technique makes cardiovascular instability easy to prevent. Therefore this review emphasizes the importance of adequate surgical anaesthesia during Caesarean section, and makes suggestions as to the optimal pharmacological agents for intraoperative anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia. Spinal anaesthesia is safe in severe preeclampsia, provided there are no contraindications to regional anaesthesia.
Endoprosthetic reconstruction for the treatment of musculoskeletal tumors of the appendicular skeleton and pelvis.

BACKGROUND Excision of a bone tumor requires reconstruction if limb salvage is a priority. Reconstruction with an endoprosthetic implant is preferred in our unit, as the patient typically can return rapidly to full weight-bearing and functional activities. Long-term complications, such as deep infection, aseptic loosening, and mechanical failure of the implants, have led to concerns about the efficacy of reconstruction and the ability to revise failed implants while maintaining limb salvage in the longer term. The purpose of this study was to investigate the survival of endoprosthetic reconstructions in the medium to long term in order to determine the factors associated with their failure. METHODS A consecutive series of 776 patients underwent endoprosthetic reconstruction following resection of a bone tumor at a minimum of ten years prior to this investigation. One hundred and nine children with a so-called growing endoprosthesis were excluded as they often require revision to an adult prosthesis near skeletal maturity. Six patients were excluded because of a lack of adequate follow-up data, leaving 661 patients for analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of the implant was performed, with implant revision for any cause (infection, local recurrence, and mechanical failure), mechanical failure alone, and amputation used as the end points. RESULTS The mean duration of follow-up was fifteen years for patients who survived the original disease. Two hundred and twenty-seven patients (34%) had revision surgery because of mechanical failure (116 patients), infection (seventy-five patients), and locally recurrent disease (thirty-six patients). Implant survival at ten years was 75% with mechanical failure as the end point and 58% with failure from any cause as the end point. The limb salvage rate was 84% at twenty years. CONCLUSIONS We believe these medium to long-term results with first-generation endoprostheses are encouraging and justify the continued use of endoprostheses for reconstruction following the excision of a bone tumor.
Maintenance therapy with capecitabine in patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma after adjuvant therapy: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND The 5-year survival of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy is below 25%. The original Gastrointestinal Tumor Study Group (GITSG) adjuvant study demonstrated a survival benefit attributed to weekly intravenous boluses of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for 2 years in addition to chemoradiation compared to surgery alone. In theory, the prolonged exposure to therapy could maintain pressure on dormant cancer cells that remain in G0 arrest and kill them as they infrequently enter the G1/S phase. We retrospectively evaluated outcomes in patients who were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and maintenance capecitabine compared with those who received only adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS Patients who had undergone surgical resection with curative intent and received adjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed. Those who subsequently received maintenance capecitabine therapy were compared to those who received adjuvant chemotherapy only. The primary end points were disease recurrence and all-cause mortality. RESULTS The median overall survival (OS) of patients receiving maintenance capecitabine was greater than 48.4 months (the exact estimate was not available, since the survival probability curve does not cross 0.5). It was 22.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.6-29.2) in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy only (P < .001 by log-rank test). The median recurrence-free survival (RFS) was also longer in the maintenance capecitabine group: 54.3 (95% CI, 22.2-Inf) compared to 14.1 (95% CI, 11.6-16.7) months (P < .001, by log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS In this retrospective study, patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma who received adjuvant chemotherapy had improved OS and RFS with additional maintenance therapy with capecitabine. These findings should be confirmed with a randomized, controlled trial.
Mobile Payment Applications: An Exploratory Analysis of the Italian Diffusion Process

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the size of the Italian market for mobile payment (mPayment) services - referred to payment of services and products, but excluding mobile content - and to identify and assess mPayment applications' main diffusion drivers. The research work involved a census of mPayment applications and the analysis of the most relevant case studies. In the first phase secondary sources were mainly used, while in the second step interviews with top managers of involved companies were conducted. Concerning the research findings, in the first semester of 2006, 21 mPayment applications were identified. Despite several benefits are related to these services (e.g. easiness and versatility of use, visibility, improved service quality, etc.), strong inhibitory factors (e.g. consolidated substitutive products, costinefficiency, etc.) and adoption barriers (e.g. regulations, value chain relationships, etc.) are restricting the users' adoption.
Lactococcus formosensis sp. nov., a lactic acid bacterium isolated from yan-tsai-shin (fermented broccoli stems).

A coccal-shaped organism, designated 516(T), was isolated from yan-tsai-shin (fermented broccoli stems), a traditional fermented food in Taiwan. 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that strain 516(T) had 98.9 % sequence similarity to that of the type strain Lactococcus garvieae NBRC 100934(T). Comparison of three housekeeping genes, rpoA, rpoB and pheS, revealed that strain 516(T) was well separated from Lactococcus garvieae NBRC 100934(T). DNA-DNA hybridization studies indicated that strain 516(T) had low DNA relatedness with Lactococcus garvieae NBRC 100934(T) (46.1 %). The DNA G+C content of strain 516(T) was 38.1 mol% and the major fatty acids were C16 : 0 (22.7 %), C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c (17.9 %) and summed feature 7 (29.0 %). Based on the evidence, strain 516(T) represents a novel species of the genus Lactococcus, for which the name Lactococcus formosensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 516(T) ( = NBRC 109475(T) = BCRC 80576(T)).