Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Haem iron‐transport system in enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7

In this study, we identified the iron‐transport systems of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain EDL933. This strain synthesized and transported enterobactin and had a ferric citrate transport system but lacked the ability to produce or use aerobactin. It used haem and haemoglobin, but not transferrin or lactoferrin, as iron sources. We cloned the gene encoding an iron‐regulated haem‐transport protein and showed that this E. coli haem‐utilization gene (chuA) encoded a 69 kDa outer membrane protein that was synthesized in response to iron limitation. Expression of this protein in a laboratory strain of E. coli was sufficient for utilization of haem or haemoglobin as iron sources. Mutation of the chromosomal chuA and tonB genes in E. coli O157:H7 demonstrated that the utilization of haemin and haemoglobin was ChuA‐ and TonB‐dependent. Nucleotide sequence analysis of chuA revealed features characteristic of TonB‐dependentFur‐regulated, outer membrane iron‐transport proteins. It was highly homologous to the shuA gene of Shigella dysenteriae and less closely related to hemR of Yersinia enterocolitica and hmuR of Yersinia pestis. A conserved Fur box was identified upstream of the chuA gene, and regulation by Fur was confirmed.
A Diagonal Structure for Analog-to-Information Conversion in Compressed Sampling

Analog-to-information conversion (AIC) is an efficient way to obtain the compressed samples directly from an analog signal. Modulated wideband converter (MWC) proposed by M. Mishali and Y. C. Elda is a successful hardware architecture of AIC that measures the analog signal by K branches of mixers and integrators (BMI). However, MWC has high implementation complexity owing to the fact that its measurement matrix is dense. To reduce the complexity of MWC, in this paper we propose the diagonal modulated wideband converter (D-MWC), where each BMI only works within a partial time period that is non-overlapping instead of each BMI working all the time in MWC. The measurement matrix of D-MWC is sparse that can significantly simplify the sampling structure. Simulations verify the effectiveness of D-MWC. The proposed D-MWC offers a good tradeoff between complexity and sampling performance.
Simultaneous Embedding of Outerplanar Graphs, Paths, and Cycles

Let G1 and G2 be two planar graphs having some vertices in common. A simultaneous embedding of G1 and G2 is a pair of crossing-free drawings of G1 and G2 such that each vertex in common is represented by the same point in both drawings. In this paper we show that an outerplanar graph and a simple path can be simultaneously embedded with fixed edges such that the edges in common are straight-line segments while the other edges of the outerplanar graph can have at most one bend per edge. We then exploit the technique for outerplanar graphs and paths to study simultaneous embeddings of other pairs of graphs. Namely, we study simultaneous embedding with fixed edges of: (i) two outerplanar graphs sharing a forest of paths and (ii) an outerplanar graph and a cycle.
Multi-scale aerosol retrieval over land from satellite data and its application on haze monitoring

In recent years the satellite monitoring capabilities in particular to derive maps of aerosol optical depth (AOD) have increased tremendously. There are many aerosol retrieval algorithms for different satellites and sensors. In 2005, a new algorithm for AOD retrieval by synergetic use of of Terra and Aqua MODIS data (SYNTAM) was proposed by Tang et al. With this algorithm, surface reflectance and AOD can be simultaneously retrieved. Now we attempt to provide multi-scale AOD, using SYNTAM algorithm. We calculated AODs at 10km, 1km, 500m and 100m spatial resolution from MODIS and HJ-1A/1B CCD (the China HJ-1A/1B of the Environment and Disasters Monitoring Microsatellite Constellation Charge-Coupled Device) data over East China on June 25, 2009. The retrieval results were compared to the result of ground-based aerosol measurements by CE318 automatic sun tracking photometer at the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) sites. The validation results show that the results retrieved by SYNTAM have good precision.
Detection of Biofilm in Wounds as an Early Indicator for Risk for Tissue Infection and Wound Chronicity

AbstractWounds are dynamic environments in which dead tissue, exudate, and the bacterial bioburden interact in a complex manner among themselves and with the tissue of the host. Bacteria organize into biofilms, reducing their susceptibility to elimination by the host immune response and antimicrobials. Early detection of biofilms in wounds is crucial to successful chronic wound management; and although many techniques have developed to identify planktonic counterparts in viable wounds, few have been able to quickly and accurately identify bacterial biofilms. Future studies are needed to find means of identifying and monitoring biofilm colonization at the bedside to permit timely initiation of treatment. In this review, we examine some promising new technologies that hope to identify and quantify the process of biofilm formation in chronic wounds.
Application of machine learning method in bridge health monitoring

Machine learning algorithms have been a typical type of highly efficient method for data processing in these recent decades, and data-driven approaches for bridge health monitoring is particularly useful since a large quantity of sensor data are available. In this paper, a review of most popular applications of machine learning method are presented in order to illustrate their utilities and limitations in the field of bridge health monitoring.
Rationale for the design of the Ada programming language

1. Introduction and preface 2. Lexical and textual structure 3. Classical programming 4. Types 5. Numeric types 6. Access types 7. Derived types 8. Subprograms 9. Packages 10. Separate compilation and libraries 11. General program structure - visibility and overloading 12. Generic units 13. Tasking 14. Exception handling 15. Representation classes and machine dependences 16. Input-output Bibliography Index.
A survey of radar systems for medical applications

A survey of radar systems used in the medical field is presented. First, medical applications of radars are described, and some emerging research fields are highlighted. Then, medical radars are analyzed in terms of block diagrams and behavioral equations and some implementations are shown as examples. A section is dedicated to the radiating structures used in these radars. Finally, human safety and environmental impact issues are addressed. The most investigated medical applications of radars are breast tumor diagnostics and remote monitoring of cardiorespiratory activity. New fields of interest are physiological liquid detection, and the monitoring of artery walls and vocal cord movements. Among the various topologies, continuous wave (CW) radars have been proven to yield the highest range resolution that is limited only by the system noise while the resolution of ultra wideband (UWB) and frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radars is also related to the used frequency bandwidth. Concerning the maximum range, UWB radars have the best performance due to their ability to operate in the presence of environmental clutter. As for the radiating structures, planar antennas are preferred for diagnostic applications, due to their small dimensions and good matching when placed in contact with the human body. Radar systems for remote monitoring, instead, are designed by using high gain antennas and taking into account the complex radar cross section (RCS) of the body.
Review: lamina-associated polypeptide 2 isoforms and related proteins in cell cycle-dependent nuclear structure dynamics.

The lamina-associated polypeptide (LAP) 2 family comprises up to six alternatively spliced proteins in mammalian cells and three isoforms in Xenopus. LAP2beta is a type II integral protein of the inner nuclear membrane, which binds to lamin B and the chromosomal protein BAF, and may link the nuclear membrane to the underlying lamina and provide docking sites for chromatin. LAP2alpha shares only the N-terminus with the other isoforms and contains a unique C-terminus. It is a nonmembrane protein associated with the nucleoskeleton and may help to organize higher order chromatin structure by interacting with A-lamins and chromosomes. Recent studies using mutant proteins have just begun to unravel functions of LAP2 isoforms during postmitotic nuclear reassembly. LAP2alpha associates with chromosomes via an alpha-specific domain at early stages of assembly, possibly providing a structural framework for chromosome reorganization. The subsequent interaction of both LAP2alpha and LAP2beta with the chromosomal BAF may stabilize chromatin structure and target membranes to the chromosomes. At later stages LAP2 may regulate the assembly of lamins. LAP2 isoforms have been found to share a homologous approximately 40 amino acid long region, the LEM domain, with nuclear membrane proteins MAN1 and emerin, which has been implicated in Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy.
A graph-based Gaussian component clustering approach to unsupervised acoustic modeling

This paper describes a new approach to unsupervised acoustic modeling, that is to build acoustic models for phoneme-like sub-word units from untranscribed speech data. The proposed approach is based on Gaussian component clustering. Initially a large set of Gaussian components are estimated from the un-transcribed data. Then clustering is performed to group these Gaussian components into different clusters. Each cluster of Gaussian components forms an acoustic model for an induced sub-word unit. We have deﬁned several similarity measures among the Gaussian components, and investigated several different graph-based clustering algorithms. Experiments on the TIMIT corpus demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
A robust-control-relevant model validation approach for continuously variable transmission control

High performance continuously variable transmission (CVT) operation requires a reliable control design for its actuation system. The aim of the present paper is to design a high performance robust controller for a range of operating conditions. High performance robust control is achieved by identifying a robust-control-relevant model set that represents the relevant dynamics of the actuation system for a range of operating conditions. Specifically, a new coordinate frame for representing model uncertainty is adopted that transparently connects the size of the model uncertainty and the control criterion, consequently a nonconservative control design can be obtained. Subsequent robust control synthesis reveals that robust performance has been significantly improved over the entire operating range, with respect to both the criterion value and relevant simulated and measured closed-loop step responses.
Fibre pulsing during melt electrospinning writing

Abstract Additive manufacturing with electrohydrodynamic direct writing is a promising approach for the production of polymeric microscale objects. In this study we investigate the stability of one such process, melt electrospinning writing, to maintain accurate placement of the deposited fibre throughout the entire print. The influence of acceleration voltage and feeding pressure on the deposited poly(ε-caprolactone) fibre homogeneity is described, and how this affects the variable lag of the jet drawn by the collector movement. Three classes of diameter instabilities were observed that led to poor printing quality: (1) temporary pulsing, (2) continuous pulsing, and (3) regular long bead defects. No breakup of the electrified jet was observed for any of the experiments. A simple approach is presented for the melt electrospinning user to evaluate fibre writing integrity, and adjust the processing parameters accordingly to achieve reproducible and constant diameter fibres.
Motivational consulting versus brief advice for smokers in general practice: a randomized trial

Background. Theoretical and clinical developments suggest that opportunistic interventions could be developed that are more effective and satisfying to use than brief advice to quit smoking. Motivational consulting was influenced by the 'stages of change' model, self-efficacy theory, motivational interviewing, and the patient-centred clinical method. Aim. To compare the clinical and cost-effectiveness of motivational consulting with brief advice to quit smoking. Method. Pragmatic randomized trial in 21 general practices in South Wales: 536 cigarette smokers consulting with 24 general practice registrars were randomized to receive motivational consulting (270 patients) or brief advice (266 patients) during one consultation. Costs of training physicians and the extra consultation time for motivational interviewing were assessed. Outcomes were documented on 418 subjects (78%) at six-month follow-up. Results. Significantly more patients in the motivational consulting group reported not smoking in the previous 24 hours (P = 0.01), delaying their first cigarette of the day more than five minutes after waking (P = 0.01), making an attempt to quit lasting at least a week during follow-up (P = 0.04), and being in a more ready stage of change (P = 0.05). Non-significant trends favoured motivational consulting for self-report abstention from smoking for one month, making an attempt to quit, and for reducing smoking. The advantage of motivational consulting was greatest among those initially not thinking of giving up in the following six months. Cost of training was £69.50 per physician, and cost of extra consultation time was £13.59 per patient. Conclusions. Motivational consulting produces better outcomes than brief advice, especially among those not 'ready to change'. This supports the stages of change model. Overall, however, few patients quit. More intensive training might produce better outcomes.
A Secondary Analysis of the Meaning of Living With Spinal Cord Injury Using Roy’s Adaptation Model

This secondary analysis was designed to place the methods and themes from a phenomenological study of the meaning of living with spinal cord injury for the family within the context of the Roy adaptation model. Seven themes emerged from the phenomenological study data. The content of each of the seven themes was found to reflect at least two of the modes of adaptation; one of the themes reflected all four of the modes of adaptation. The findings of this study revealed that the meaning of living with spinal cord injury reflects all four modes of adaptation.
Intrusions as a sign of Alzheimer dementia chemical and pathological verification

Word intrusions, a behavioral abnormality previously observed in experimental subjects receiving anticholinergic medication as well as in patients with Alzheimer dementia (Alz), were studied as a diagnostic indicator of Alz in 29 elderly nursing home residents who later came to autopsy. Those who intruded words from one portion of a mental status test to another tended to have low levels of choline acetyltransferase in the cerebral cortex (median, 104.33,p<0.05) and large numbers of cortical senile plaques (median, 16.0,p<0.01). Immediate perseverations and “guesses” on a memory test were not counted. In another group of 38 patients for clinical neurological examination for dementia, intrusions were associated with Alz in 84% of those who exhibited them and identified 90% of patients with this presumptive diagnosis.
Association cohérente de données dans les systèmes temps réel à base de composants - Application aux logiciels spatiaux

Les architectures distribuees des systemes embarques sont souvent decrites sous la forme de composants concurrents communiquant entre eux. De tels systemes sont a la fois orientes flot de donnees pour leur description, et diriges par le temps pour leur execution. Cette these s’inscrit dans cette problematique et se concentre sur le controle de la compatibilite temporelle d’un ensemble de donnees interdependantes utilisees par les composants du systeme. L’architecture d’un systeme modelise par composants forme un graphe ou plusieurs chemins peuvent relier deux composants, avec des caracteristiques temporelles heterogenes, ce qui induit des temps de parcours disparates. Il est alors important que ces flots d’information soient assembles de facon coherente sur le composant destinataire, c’est-a-dire de telle maniere que le composant utilise en entree des donnees dependant (directement ou indirectement) du meme pas d’execution du composant a l’origine de ces flots multiples. Dans un premier temps, ce principe d’association coherente de donnees est identifie et formalise. Une methodologie est proposee afin de detecter, dans un graphe de composants, les configurations pouvant poser des problemes d’association de donnees. Dans un deuxieme temps, differentes approches sont detaillees afin de gerer l’association coherente des donnees dans des systemes periodiques sans supposer de proprietes strictes sur l’ordonnancement des composants. Dans les systemes ou les composants partagent la meme periode et ou les communications intra-periodiques sont interdites, l’association des donnees est geree par un mecanisme de files permettant de reequilibrer les temps de parcours des donnees sur les differents chemins. Dans le cas ou les composants sont de periodes diverses, un mecanisme d’estampillage des donnees est utilise afin de memoriser les dependances entre donnees. Associe a l’utilisation de files, cet estampillage permet aux composants de selectionner, a chacune de leurs phases d’activation, des ensembles de donnees coherents choisis parmi les donnees a leur disposition. La notion d’association coherente est ensuite relâchee, permettant une utilisation de donnees approximativement coherentes. Des files filtrantes, n’enregistrant qu’une donnee sur un certain nombre de donnees recues, permettent de reduire la taille des files necessaires. Par ailleurs, du fait de la liberte du modele d’execution choisi, il existe des situations ou il est impossible de garantir la vivacite de l’association coherente des donnees. D’autre part, une architecture particuliere peut generer des contraintes de coherence conflictuelles et aboutir a une impossibilite de gestion de la coherence. Pour terminer, les resultats de ces travaux sont appliques sur le logiciel applicatif d’un satellite d’observation terrestre detectant des points chauds.
Substrate integrated waveguide bandpass filter for VSAT downlink

Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) is a transceiver station that is used to exchange information via satellite. VSAT uses frequencies that consist of uplink and downlink frequency, where the uplink frequency is greater than the downlink frequency. Uplink frequency is in a range of 5.925–6.425 GHz while the downlink frequency is at 3.7–4.2 GHz. In this research, a substrate integrated waveguide bandpass filter is designed on VSAT downlink frequency. The simulation shows good performances between 3.7–4.2 GHz of 11% fractional bandwidth. In the middle frequency, the return loss (S11) is 17.76 dB and the insertion loss is 1.02 dB (S21). While on the measurement result gives 3.871 dB for insertion loss (S21) value and 30.87 dB for return loss (S11) value.
What drives Senegalese migration to Europe? The role of economic restructuring, labor demand, and the multiplier effect of networks

The work has benefitted from useful suggestions and discussions with Mathew Creighton, Mao-Mei Liu, and the participants of the workshop ‘The Decision to Emigrate. Agent-Based Modeling of International Migration’, Max-Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, 25‒27 September 2013. We also thank two anonymous reviewers and the journal editor for their comments and useful suggestions. The research reported here has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity, National Program of Research and Development (CSO2012-37920)
Comprehension of affective prosody in women with post‐traumatic stress disorder related to childhood abuse

Although deficits in memory and cognitive processing are evident in post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), difficulties with social cognition and the impact of such difficulties on interpersonal functioning are poorly understood. Here, we examined the ability of women diagnosed with PTSD related to childhood abuse to discriminate affective prosody, a central component of social cognition.
High-sensitive troponin T and N-terminal-brain-natriuretic-peptide predict outcome in symptomatic aortic stenosis

Abstract Objectives. Aortic stenosis (AS) and atherosclerosis share similarities when it comes to risk factors and disease progression. Like in other heart diseases, we hypothesized that biomarkers like high-sensitive troponin T (hsTnT), N-terminal-pro-brain-natriuretic-peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) could be useful in risk stratification. Design. A total of 136 patients (57% men, mean age 74 years), referred for evaluation of AS (valve area 0.62 cm2, left ventricular ejection fraction 64%) were consecutively enrolled in the study. The relationship between hsTnT, hsCRP and NT-proBNP, different echocardiographic parameters of AS and cardiac function were investigated as well as their relation to all-cause mortality. Results. In contrast to hsCRP, hsTnT and NT-proBNP were individually correlated with prognosis. Regression analysis identified diabetes and the combination of hsTnT and NT-proBNP as significant predictors of all-cause mortality. When analyzing patients without surgery separately, only the combination of hsTnT and NT-proBNP were identified as a significant predictor of all-cause mortality in multivariable analysis. Conclusion. The combination of NT-proBNP and hsTnT came out as the strongest predictor of outcome irrespective of surgical treatment or not and could be of particular interest in risk-stratification in AS-patients. The results should be confirmed in prospective studies both in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
Emerging Antiviral Strategies to Interfere with Influenza Virus Entry

Influenza A and B viruses are highly contagious respiratory pathogens with a considerable medical and socioeconomical burden and known pandemic potential. Current influenza vaccines require annual updating and provide only partial protection in some risk groups. Due to the global spread of viruses with resistance to the M2 proton channel inhibitor amantadine or the neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir, novel antiviral agents with an original mode of action are urgently needed. We here focus on emerging options to interfere with the influenza virus entry process, which consists of the following steps: attachment of the viral hemagglutinin to the sialylated host cell receptors, endocytosis, M2‐mediated uncoating, low pH‐induced membrane fusion, and, finally, import of the viral ribonucleoprotein into the nucleus. We review the current functional and structural insights in the viral and cellular components of this entry process, and the diverse antiviral strategies that are being explored. This encompasses small molecule inhibitors as well as macromolecules such as therapeutic antibodies. There is optimism that at least some of these innovative concepts to block influenza virus entry will proceed from the proof of concept to a more advanced stage. Special attention is therefore given to the challenging issues of influenza virus (sub)type‐dependent activity or potential drug resistance.