Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping Loci for Surface Exclusion and Incompatibility on the F Factor of Escherichia coli K-12

A series of Hfr deletion strains carrying deletions extending different distances into the integrated F factor have been used to map loci for surface exclusion (traS) and for incompatibility (inc) on the Escherichia coli K-12 sex factor F. traS mapped between traG and traD. It forms a part of the large operon, including all the known transfer genes except traJ, and is co-controlled with these. The product of traS is not required for formation of the F pilus. inc mapped between the φR11 locus and the origin of transfer; it is therefore one of the earliest loci transferred during conjugation.
ABCB1 is predominantly expressed in human fetal neural stem/progenitor cells at an early development stage

ABCB1 is a human ABC transporter originally characterized by its ability to cause resistance to chemotherapy drugs in cancer cells, and later found to be functionally expressed in human neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) in vitro. Here, we performed a detailed examination of ABCB1's expression on human NSPCs in vitro and in human fetal brain tissues, and analyzed the cellular properties of the human NSPCs expressing ABCB1. We confirmed that ABCB1 was expressed on the surface of human NSPCs, and its level correlated well with those of Nestin and CD133. The population of fluorescence‐activated cell sorter–sorted human NSPCs expressing high levels of ABCB1 showed enrichment of proliferating cells, higher expression of 246 genes (e.g., RGS6, IGFBP7, GFAP, TNC, Hes1), and lower expression of 71 genes (e.g., STMN2, DLX5, BASP1, DCX, CD24) compared with human NSPCs expressing low or no ABCB1. In situ, ABCB1 was selectively expressed in cells in the ventricular or subventricular regions of lateral ventricles that expressed Nestin in human development. These findings suggest that ABCB1 is predominantly expressed in immature human fetal NSPCs in vitro and at early developmental stages in vivo, and that it may be a useful marker for human NSPCs. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lipomatous tumors and tumors with fatty component: MR imaging potential and comparison of MR and CT results.

This retrospective study was performed to assess the potential of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for demonstrating various types of lipomatous tumors and tumors with fatty component and to compare the results of MR with those of computed tomography (CT). MR examinations of 17 patients with 18 lipomatous tumors (16, benign; two, liposarcoma) and two patients with fibrosarcomas were reviewed; CT scans were available for comparison in all patients. In the 16 benign lesions (12 benign lipomas, two ovarian dermoid cysts, and two renal angiomyolipomas), the fatty component of the tumors was readily demonstrated by both MR and CT. The T1 and T2 relaxation times and spin density of benign lipomatous tumors were in a range similar to those of normal subcutaneous fat. Differentiation between lipomas and liposarcomas was achieved with both MR and CT. On MR images using a short repetition time (TR = .5 sec), liposarcomas (long T1) were imaged with a lower MR intensity than lipomas (short T1).
Modular endoprostheses for children with malignant bone tumors.

BACKGROUND The treatment of malignant bone tumors in skeletally immature patients is difficult because the required surgery removes the growth plate of one extremity. To date, few techniques for limb salvage have been successful due to complications involving limb expansion and limb-length discrepancy. Newer technology is now available for prosthetic replacements for modular expansion. METHODS The authors review current surgical treatment of malignant bone tumors in children, with emphasis on reconstruction with expandable modular prostheses, and they present their own experience. RESULTS Thirty-seven children with malignant bone tumors underwent primary tumor resection and reconstruction with a modular prosthetic device. Fourteen had subsequent successful expansions with modular prostheses. A new prosthesis, in which lengthening is achieved by an external electromagnetic field rather than an open surgical procedure, is discussed. CONCLUSIONS Limb-preserving surgery in children with malignant bone tumors can be accomplished successfully with modern prosthetic devices that have expandable modules within them. The technique of expandable prostheses using electromagnetic fields rather than surgical interventions shows promise.
Mva1269I: A Monomeric Type IIS Restriction Endonuclease from Micrococcus Varians with Two EcoRI- and FokI-like Catalytic Domains*

Type II restriction endonuclease Mva1269I recognizes an asymmetric DNA sequence 5′-GAATGCN↓-3′/5′-NG↓CATTC-3′ and cuts top and bottom DNA strands at positions, indicated by the “↓” symbol. Most restriction endonucleases require dimerization to cleave both strands of DNA. We found that Mva1269I is a monomer both in solution and upon binding of cognate DNA. Protein fold-recognition analysis revealed that Mva1269I comprises two “PD-(D/E)XK” domains. The N-terminal domain is related to the 5′-GAATTC-3′-specific restriction endonuclease EcoRI, whereas the C-terminal one resembles the nonspecific nuclease domain of restriction endonuclease FokI. Inactivation of the C-terminal catalytic site transformed Mva1269I into a very active bottom strand-nicking enzyme, whereas mutants in the N-terminal domain nicked the top strand, but only at elevated enzyme concentrations. We found that the cleavage of the bottom strand is a prerequisite for the cleavage of the top strand. We suggest that Mva1269I evolved the ability to recognize and to cleave its asymmetrical target by a fusion of an EcoRI-like domain, which incises the bottom strand within the target, and a FokI-like domain that completes the cleavage within the nonspecific region outside the target sequence. Our results have implications for the molecular evolution of restriction endonucleases, as well as for perspectives of engineering new restriction and nicking enzymes with asymmetric target sites.
Study on coal logistics demand forecast based on PSO-SVR

The coal logistics demand in this paper is refer to the demand of coal transportation, mainly including: the railway, highway and waterway freight volume of coal. In consideration of the small and the nonlinear history sample, this paper combines the support vector regression machine (support vector regression, SVR) and Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm, (Particle Swarm Optimization, PSO) to propose PSO-SVR coal logistics demand forecasting model which is suitable for the learning of small samples. Taking Coal railway freight volume for example, the paper first select influence factors and coal railway freight volumes from 1995 to 2011 as the learning samples to establish the “influence factors - coal railway freight volume” SVR model and then use the particle swarm algorithm to optimize model parameters, Finally, it forecasts the coal railway freight volume. The results show that the prediction accuracy of PSO-SVR model is superior to the BP neural network model.
Mosaic based flexible navigation for AGVs

Highly flexible systems require that Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) in a plant navigate autonomously and changes in their missions should not require difficult setup procedures. In this paper we address the problem of localization of a mobile robot in a indoor environment. The robot is able to find its position without any grounded wires, landmarks or laser beacons. The robot uses images acquired in the roof to compute its position and navigate between coordinates. The main contribution is the absence of external services to solve the AGV localization problem, allowing fast reconfiguration.
Place Recognition in Semi-Dense Maps

For robotics and augmented reality systems operating in large and dynamic environments, place recognition and tracking using vision represent very challenging tasks. Additionally, when these systems need to reliably operate for very long time periods, such as months or years, further challenges are introduced by severe environmental changes, that can significantly alter the visual appearance of a scene. Thus, to unlock long term, large scale visual place recognition, it is necessary to develop new methodologies for improving localization under difficult conditions. As shown in previous work, gains in robustness can be achieved by exploiting the 3D structural information of a scene. The latter, extracted from image sequences, carries in fact more discriminative clues than individual images only. In this paper, we propose to represent a scene’s structure with semi-dense point clouds, due to their highly informative power, and the simplicity of their generation through mature visual odometry and SLAM systems. Then we cast place recognition as an instance of pose retrieval and evaluate several techniques, including recent learning based approaches, to produce discriminative descriptors of semi-dense point clouds. Our proposed methodology, evaluated on the recently published and challenging Oxford Robotcar Dataset, shows to outperform image-based place recognition, with improvements up to 30% in precision across strong appearance changes. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to propose place recognition in semi-dense maps.
Varus Malalignment of the Talar Neck. Its Effect on the Position of the Foot and on Subtalar Motion*†

We performed an in vitro study on twelve specimens of the foot and ankle from cadavera to determine whether varus malalignment of the talar neck alters the position of the foot and subtalar motion. An osteotomy of the talar neck was performed, and the specimens were studied with and without removal of a medially based wedge of bone. Removal of the wedge produced an average varus malalignment of the talar neck of 17.1 ± 2.4 degrees (range, 12.5 to 21.0 degrees). In the coronal plane, the average arc of motion of the subtalar joint decreased from 17.2 ± 3.3 degrees before the osteotomy to 11.7 ± 2.9 degrees after the osteotomy and removal of the wedge. In the transverse plane, it decreased from 17.5 ± 2.9 degrees to 11.9 ± 2.4 degrees. In the sagittal plane, it decreased from 8.9 ± 2.4 degrees to 6.8 ± 2.3 degrees. The decrease in subtalar motion was characterized by an inability to evert the foot; inversion was not limited, however. The malalignment produced an average of 4.8 ± 1.2 degrees of varus deformity and 8.7 ± 2.3 degrees of internal rotation of the hindfoot and an average of 5.5 ± 2.0 degrees of varus deformity and 11.5 ± 2.4 degrees of adduction of the forefoot. A linear correlation analysis was used to compare the change in subtalar motion and the position of the foot with the degree of varus malalignment at the talar neck. The correlation coefficient was 0.90 (p < 0.01) for subtalar motion, 0.76 (p < 0.01) for internal rotation of the calcaneus, and 0.81 (p < 0.01) for adduction of the forefoot. This indicated a direct correlation between the degree of varus malalignment at the talar neck and the change in the position of the foot and in subtalar motion.
Using Accuracy-Based Learning Classifier Systems for Adaptable Strategy Generation in Games and Interactive Virtual Simulations

Historically, the artificial intelligence (AI) of interactive virtual simulations or games is usually driven by pre-defined static scripts. One of the disadvantages of such scripted opponents is that they can be deciphered and countered by an intelligent user. Thus, the user has the opportunity to find weaknesses and an easy solution against the virtual simulation, which diminishes the efficiency aspect of a training session or entertaining value drastically. While randomization can be used to mask the static behaviour of a scripted AI, it is possible to develop much richer solutions by applying Learning Classifier System (LCS) techniques to create agents with intelligent-like behaviors. Learning Classifier Systems are rule-based machine learning techniques that rely on a Genetic Algorithm to discover a knowledge map used to classify an input space into a set of actions. In this paper, we propose the use of an unsupervised machine learning technique called Accuracy-based Learning Classifier Systems (XCS) for adaptable strategy generation that can be used in virtual simulations or games. XCS use a Genetic Algorithm to evolve a knowledge base in the form of rules. The performance and adaptability of the strategies and tactics developed with the XCS is analyzed by facing these against scripted opponents on a real time strategy game. According to our experiments, the rulesets are able to adapt to a wide array of behaviors from its opponents, as opposed to a linear game script, which is limited in its ability to adapt to its environment.
The macrophage: Past, present and future

As we approach the centenary of Elie Metchnikoff's Nobel Prize (1908), it is opportune to reflect upon the history of macrophage immunobiology, take stock of current knowledge and anticipate questions for the future. Starting from his appreciation of phagocytosis as an important determinant of host defence against infection and injury, we have learned a great deal about the distribution of macrophages throughout the body, their heterogeneous phenotype and complex functions in tissue homeostasis as well as in innate and acquired immunity. Recent discoveries of Toll‐like and other plasma membrane, vacuolar and cytosolic recognition molecules have brought the macrophage and closely related dendritic cells to the centre of immunologic attention, but many earlier discoveries of their cellular and molecular properties have laid a broader foundation to the appreciation of their remarkable plasticity and adaptability to local and systemic cues. Discoveries of pro‐inflammatory mediators such as TNF and other secretory products have provided valuable insights into the role of macrophages in many acute and chronic disease processes, and led to the development of effective therapeutics. Much remains to be discovered regarding both their specific functions and by study of their general cellular properties, in vitro and in vivo.
Enantioselective synthesis of all-carbon quaternary stereogenic centers by catalytic asymmetric conjugate additions of alkyl and aryl aluminum reagents to five-, six-, and seven-membered-ring beta-substituted cyclic enones.

advances involving catalytic ACA reactions of alkyl metal (mostly dialkyl zinc) reagents, a number of critical shortcomings remain unaddressed. One noteworthy challenge concerns transformations of b-substituted cyclopentenones, processes that are often less efficient (vs. reactions of larger rings) but can deliver products that may be used in enantioselective syntheses of a variety of biologically active natural products. Previously reported approaches, involving zinc-based reagents, are only effective with five-memberedring substrates when the enone bears an additional activating substituent. Additions of trialkyl aluminum reagents to bsubstituted cyclopentenones catalyzed by chiral copper phosphoramidites have been shown to proceed in three cases. In only a single instance, however, is high selectivity observed (ACA with Et3Al; 96.5:3.5 e.r., 93% ee). [5a] Herein, we disclose an efficient set of protocols for catalytic ACA reactions of alkyl and aryl aluminum reagents with a range of unactivated b-substituted cyclic enones, including cyclopentenones. Reactions, promoted in the presence of a chiral bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) copper complex (5 mol%), are efficient (up to 97% yield) and highly selective (up to > 99:< 1 e.r., greater than 98% ee). In the case of transformations involving additions of aryl units, the requisite aluminum-based reagents are prepared in situ from commercially available dimethylaluminum chloride and the corresponding aryl lithium compounds. We began our investigations by examining the ability of NHC complexes 1–4 (Scheme 1), previously developed in our laboratories, to promote ACA of trialkyl aluminum reagents to cyclic enones. As the main objective of these studies is reactions of b-substituted cyclopentenones, we selected 6a to serve as the representative substrate (Table 1). Our focus on aluminum-based reagents is partly due to the higher reactivity as well as the significantly lower cost of this class of alkylating agents (vs. dialkyl zinc reagents). Through an initial screening study (Table 1), we established that the first two generations of aryloxide-containing NHC copper complexes derived from 1 and 2 do not
The Integration of Scales in Landscape Ecology Editorial

Inquiries into the issue of scale become increasingly important in the field of landscape ecology and natural resource modelling and analysis. Scales of observation and modelling are often pre-set based on the a priori description of the system of study. In this paper we focus on upscaling approaches. We emphasize that predictability depends on the relation between the spatial and the temporal scale of study. Three examples of scale dependent processes illustrate the importance of identifying the scale at which processes operate to avoid erroneous conclusions. Two modelling studies show a number of scale related bottlenecks in data, interpolation, extrapolation and modelling. In statistical modelling of spatial data spatial dependence should be examined, truly independent validation data sets should be available and spatial extrapolation should be done with care. In mechanistic modelling of processes spatial up-scaling requires information on landscape heterogeneity and how this influences the modelled processes. Although a general guideline in choosing an appropriate scale of study is that discrepancies between the scale of observation, dominant processes and model calculations should be avoided, in most landscape ecological studies such discrepancies are a given. They should be explicitly acknowledged and the information in this paper may help in recognizing them and dealing with them.
Novel vehicle crash risk detection based on vehicular sensory system

Vehicular on-board devices have been widely applied for enhancement of perceiving driving status and road traffic environment, which in turn, can be used to detect vehicle crash risk and provide drivers with pre warning or safe driving assistance in dangerous situation. This paper aims to propose a vehicular cyber physical system and its logical framework for crash risk identification and warning system based on vehicular on-board devices. Wireless communication devices connecting subject vehicle to approaching vehicles (V2V) and vehicles to roadside equipment (V2I), are applied to comprehensively track the motion status of the moving vehicles and road target (approaching vehicles, obstacles and pedestrians). Then, the motion state of road vehicles and obstacles under surveillance is short-term predicted with regards to the Kalman Filter (KF), and the crossed vehicle trajectory will be detected half a second early. Furthermore, vehicular distance are predicted and compared with the estimated safe threshold, and the traffic crash risk can be evaluated. Finally, a group of simulation tests are conducted and the results indicate that the proposed system and method are of effective for detecting vehicle crash risk and providing driver accurate warning.
Individual Identification Using Linear Projection of Heartbeat Features

This paper presents a novel method to use the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal as biometrics for individual identification. The ECG characterization is performed using an automated approach consisting of analytical and appearance methods. The analytical method extracts the fiducial features from heartbeats while the appearance method extracts the morphological features from the ECG trace. We linearly project the extracted features into a subspace of lower dimension using an orthogonal basis that represent the most significant features for distinguishing heartbeats among the subjects. Result demonstrates that the proposed characterization of the ECG signal and subsequently derived eigenbeat features are insensitive to signal variations and nonsignal artifacts. The proposed system utilizing ECG biometric method achieves the best identification rates of 85.7% for the subjects of MIT-BIH arrhythmia database and 92.49% for the healthy subjects of our IIT (BHU) database. These results are significantly better than the classification accuracies of 79.55% and 84.9%, reported using support vector machine on the tested subjects of MIT-BIH arrhythmia database and our IIT (BHU) database, respectively.
Towards an Effective Framework for Integrating Educational Software into Health Informatics Curricula

In the last few years, the use of information technology to improve the quality of healthcare services has challenged healthcare organizations to adjust to these new developments. Consequently, there is an increasing demand to prepare health informatics professionals to be a driving force in the adoption and implementation of health information technology projects. This paper presents the results of an exploratory study conducted to gain insight into the potential benefits and challenges related to the integration of an educational health information system into an introductory course on health informatics. The study aims to achieve an effective framework for embedding educational software into undergraduate health informatics courses. The students who participated in this study used the system to gain practical experience with how a health informatics system performs its core functions and to discover the importance of integration between different parts of the system. The results of the study revealed that integrating health informatics software into undergraduate courses has positive impacts on the learning process. However, the study identified various barriers that should be taken into consideration to achieve educationally effective integration of health informatics software into the teaching environment.
Pharmacological studies of 3'-(4-morpholinyl)-3'-deaminodaunorubicin in human colon carcinoma cells in vitro.

The pharmacological properties of the new anthracycline, 3′-morpholino-3′-deaminodaunorubicin (MD), and Adriamycin (ADR) have been compared in human colon carcinoma (HT-29) cells in vitro . ADR was 10-fold more cytocidal than MD to log-phase cells upon short (2 hr)- or long (24 hr)-term drug exposure. In plateau-phase cells, 2-hr exposure to either ADR or MD produced equivalent reductions in colony formation, but ADR was 3-fold more toxic than MD following 24-hr treatment. Although ADR produced greater cell lethality than MD, the latter drug was far more inhibitory to DNA and RNA synthesis at equitoxic concentrations. This disparity was related to pharmacodynamic differences between the two drugs. The cellular uptake of MD was rapid and reached a plateau after 1 to 2 hr, whereas ADR was taken up at a 15-fold slower rate. However, by 24 hr after drug treatment, the intracellular concentration of MD decreased while ADR continued to accumulate until it reached one-half of the intracellular concentration of MD. When cells were incubated with 10−6 m drug for 24 hr, 65% of MD but less than 10% of ADR was converted to the alcohol metabolite. The fraction of metabolite was higher in the media than in the cells, demonstrating that it was less able to accumulate in the cells than the parent drug, and hence accounted for the decline in intracellular levels of MD at 24 hr. When placed in drug-free media, the rate of efflux of MD was much greater ( t ½ 45 min) than that of ADR ( t ½ 6 hr). The strikingly different pharmacodynamic properties of these drugs related to the greater lipid solubility of MD versus ADR but not to their binding affinities to DNA, which were similar. The decreased cytotoxicity of MD versus ADR was unrelated to either its metabolism, its rapid uptake and efflux, or its inhibitory effects on nucleic acid synthesis.