Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sticky Signaling—Adhesion Class G Protein–Coupled Receptors Take the Stage

Emerging insight on the structural and functional versatility of Adhesion-GPCRs draws a fascinating picture of the multiple signals these molecules transmit. Gloss Adhesion-type heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide–binding protein (G protein)–coupled receptors (Adhesion-GPCRs) comprise a class of noncanonical seven-transmembrane spanning (7TM) receptors present on almost any cell type. Despite their abundance, remarkable size, and intriguing two-unit structure facilitating cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts in various organ systems, Adhesion-GPCRs are by far the most poorly understood 7TM receptors. Data indicate that a juxtamembrane GPCR autoproteolysis-inducing domain containing the GPCR proteolysis site (GPS) figures prominently in the biological function of Adhesion-GPCRs. This review, which has five figures, five tables, and 216 references, discusses the currently available data regarding the major structural elements of Adhesion-GPCRs in the context of receptor function and signaling. Adhesion-type heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide–binding protein (G protein)–coupled receptors (Adhesion-GPCRs) comprise a class of widely distributed seven-transmembrane spanning (7TM) receptors with unusual layout and properties. The key to understanding the function of Adhesion-GPCRs appears to be their hybrid architecture: They have an extracellular domain containing an extended array of protein folds fit for interactions, and structural elements of GPCRs with a 7TM and an intracellular domain. If and how these distinct protein portions interact is currently under intense investigation. Intriguingly, all Adhesion-GPCRs have a juxtamembrane GPCR autoproteolysis-inducing domain that, in many homologs, facilitates the autocatalytic processing into an N-terminal fragment (NTF) and a C-terminal fragment (CTF), which subsequently remain attached at the cell surface. The NTF provides the ability for combinatorial engagement with cellular or matrix-associated molecules facilitating cell adhesion, orientation, and positioning during development, immune responses, and tumor growth. The CTF, like in canonical GPCRs, initiates interactions with different types of signaling molecules, including heterotrimeric G proteins, small guanosine triphosphatases, and transmembrane protein partners, yet the agonistic potential of most known Adhesion-GPCR ligands is uncertain. Studies with truncated receptors suggest that the NTF and CTF of Adhesion-GPCRs may function as autonomous adhesive and signaling units, respectively, but other studies in nonvertebrates demonstrating NTF-CTF interplay challenge this view. We discuss the available data concerning the main structural elements of Adhesion-GPCRs in the context of receptor function and signaling.
User experience-based evaluation of open source workflow systems: The cases of Bonita, Activiti, jBPM, and Intalio

The task of selecting a workflow system becomes more and more complex and risky. For this reason, organisations require a broad, and a clear vision of which workflow engines are, and will continue to be, suitable for changing requirements. This paper presents a user experience based evaluation model for workflow systems to analyse, compare, and select business process management modelling and enactment systems according to user specific requirements. After the description of the underlying worflow system evaluation model itself, we experiment it to assess criteria satisfaction on four open source workflow systems Bonita, Activiti, jBPM, and Intalio.
Modeling of single-HB PWM modulated dual active bridge DC-DC converter with multifrequency average approach

This paper focuses on the modeling of Dual Active Bridge (DAB) DC-DC converter. Single-HB modulation has been studied in many papers, but no modeling work about this has been done. A multifrequency average model of DAB with single-HB PWM modulation is proposed in this paper. The proposed average model uses the dc, first and third coefficients in the Fourier series of transformer current as the state variables to improve model accuracy. Then, the modeling result is verified by simulation and the modeling accuracy reaches one-third of the switching frequency. It also indicates that the model will be more accurate if more terms in the Fourier series of variables are considered.
Realization of 3-D separable-denominator digital filters with very low l2-sensitivity

This paper investigates the problem of reducing the deviation from a desired transfer function caused by the coefficient quantization errors of a three-dimensional (3-D) separable-denominator digital filter. First, a 3-D transfer function with separable denominator is represented with the cascade connection of three one-dimensional (1-D) transfer functions by applying a minimal decomposition technique. Next, the multiinput multi-output (MIMO) 1-D transfer function located in the middle of the cascade connection is realized by a minimal state-space model and then the l2/l2-sensitivity of the model is analyzed. Third, a technique for the optimal synthesis of the minimal state-space model is developed so as to minimize the l2-sensitivity subject to l2-scaling constraints. Finally, a numerical example is given to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Neuro-mechanical modelling and control of winding processes

This paper presents a novel modelling and control algorithm for systems which are governed by partial differential equations. Different from existing distributed parameter systems so far discussed in literature, the control input of the system considered in this paper appears only inside the boundary conditions. The purpose is to control the boundary condition so as to realize the total distribution control of the system output. For this purpose, an orthogonal B-spline neural network model is used to approximate the solution of the system. By substituting this B-spline model into the original partial differential equation and letting the residual orthogonal to all the selected basis functions, the dynamics of the weights of the B-spline model are obtained. Such a dynamics relates the input to the weights of the B-spline model through an ordinary differential equation, where the controller designed only needs to be focused on the control of the weights because all the basis functions are fixed. This leads to the design of an observer based controller which realizes the profile control of the system output with guaranteed stability. The control algorithm is applied to a winding process in the paper making industry, where the model of the winding process is developed and the corresponding controller is derived. Some simulations are provided to show the effectiveness of the control algorithm.
The Fanconi Anemia Pathway Promotes Replication-Dependent DNA Interstrand Cross-Link Repair

Fanconi Cross-Links Fanconi anemia is a rare genetic disease characterized by bone marrow failure, developmental abnormalities, and dramatically increased cancer susceptibility. Cells derived from Fanconi anemia patients are sensitive to agents that cause DNA interstrand cross-links, indicating that under normal circumstances the Fanconi pathway controls the repair of these DNA lesions. Knipscheer et al. (p. 1698, published online 12 November) found that two Fanconi anemia proteins, FANCI and FANCD2, promoted the DNA replication–coupled repair of interstrand cross-links in cell extracts. The FANCI-FANCD2 complex was required for the incisions that unhook the cross-link and for the insertion of a nucleotide across from the damaged template base during lesion bypass. Insertion of a nucleotide during the repair of a complex lesion in DNA requires tagging of a lysine residue. Fanconi anemia is a human cancer predisposition syndrome caused by mutations in 13 Fanc genes. The disorder is characterized by genomic instability and cellular hypersensitivity to chemicals that generate DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs). A central event in the activation of the Fanconi anemia pathway is the mono-ubiquitylation of the FANCI-FANCD2 complex, but how this complex confers ICL resistance remains enigmatic. Using a cell-free system, we showed that FANCI-FANCD2 is required for replication-coupled ICL repair in S phase. Removal of FANCD2 from extracts inhibits both nucleolytic incisions near the ICL and translesion DNA synthesis past the lesion. Reversal of these defects requires ubiquitylated FANCI-FANCD2. Our results show that multiple steps of the essential S-phase ICL repair mechanism fail when the Fanconi anemia pathway is compromised.
Crossing the valley of death: A multi-sited, multi-level ethnographic study of growth startups and entrepreneurial communities in post-industrial Detroit

CROSSING THE VALLEY OF DEATH: A MULTI-SITED, MULTI-LEVEL ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF GROWTH STARTUPS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITIES IN POST-INDUSTRIAL DETROIT by MARLO RENCHER December 2012 Advisor: Dr. Allen Batteau Major: Anthropology Degree: Doctor of Philosophy The intention of this research is to reveal the humanity of the startup experience for American growth companies. What is it about the growth entrepreneurship experience that has been hidden from view? Can we begin to articulate a holistic view of entrepreneurship—including those human universals and culture-bound particulars that must be successfully navigated? This study is an ethnographic account of three Detroit-based entrepreneurial communities and the people within them. This research examines the sociocultural features of entrepreneurship on three levels. The first level of context for growth businesses to be studied is that of their entrepreneurial community. These communities have unique properties that shape the strategies for companies operating within them. The second level of study is organizational. Understanding the factors that catalyzed the emergence, transitions and culture of a business can yield important insights. The third level of study is through the perspective of the entrepreneur, understanding their activities and motivations.
Gene transfer in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The ability of bacteria to exchange deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) endows these organisms with greater genetic variability and increased capability to adapt to changing environments. Many bacteria have evolved transformation and conjugation systems to effect this exchange, whereas others achieve it through the action of bacteriophages. In Neisseria gonorrhoeae no transducing bacteriophages have been identified, but conjugation and transformation both occur (10). Gonococci are extremely autolytic and therefore release DNA to neighboring cells (19). Transformation with chromosomal markers has been demonstrated between strains in laboratory-grown mixed cultures (32); similar transformation probably occurs in nature. Quite recently, antigenic and phase variation of gonococcal pili has been shown to be due in large part to release of DNA from autolyzing cells, with subsequent transformation of other competent cells in the population by variant pil sequences (32a; C. Haas and T. Meyer, personal communication). Gonococcal transformation has been studied extensively and has proven useful in the construction of isogenic strains for mapping antibiotic resistance genes and biosynthetic auxotrophs, and in studies of molecules implicated in the virulence of this organism (10, 34). Conjugation in N. gonorrhoeae is important because it results in mobilization of antibiotic resistance plasmids, but chromosomal genes cannot be transferred by conjugation (3, 10, 27, 31, 37, 44J. Thus, in the laboratory and in nature, transformation is the primary means of transfer of chromosomal genes. In this brief review, mechanisms of gene exchange will be emphasized, and some speculative comments on possible future developments are included.
Abdominal Drainage After Hepatic Resection Is Contraindicated in Patients With Chronic Liver Diseases

Objective:The aim of this study was to determine whether abdominal drainage is beneficial after elective hepatic resection in patients with underlying chronic liver diseases. Summary Background Data:Traditionally, in patients with chronic liver diseases, an abdominal drainage catheter is routinely inserted after hepatic resection to drain ascitic fluid and to detect postoperative hemorrhage and bile leakage. However, the benefits of this surgical practice have not been evaluated prospectively. Patients and Methods:Between January 1999 and March 2002, 104 patients who had underlying chronic liver diseases were prospectively randomized to have either closed suction abdominal drainage (drainage group, n = 52) or no drainage (nondrainage group, n = 52) after elective hepatic resection. The operative outcomes of the 2 groups of patients were compared. Results:Fifty-seven (55%) patients had major hepatic resection with resection of 3 Coiunaud's segments or more. Sixty-nine (66%) patients had liver cirrhosis and 35 (34%) had chronic hepatitis. Demographic, surgical, and pathologic details were similar between both groups. The primary indication for hepatic resection was hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 100, 96%). There was no difference in hospital mortality between the 2 groups of patients (drainage group, 6% vs. nondrainage group, 2%; P = 0.618). However, there was a significantly higher overall operative morbidity in the drainage group (73% vs. 38%, P < 0.001). This was related to a significantly higher incidence of wound complications in the drainage group compared with the nondrainage group (62% vs. 21%, P < 0.001). In addition, a trend toward a higher incidence of septic complications in the drainage group was observed (33% vs. 17%, P = 0.07). The mean (± standard error of mean) postoperative hospital stay of the drainage group was 19.0 ± 2.2 days, which was significantly longer than that of the nondrainage group (12.5 ± 1.1 days, P = 0.005). With a median follow-up of 15 months, none of the 51 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the drainage group developed metastasis at the drain sites. On multivariate analysis, abdominal drainage, underlying liver cirrhosis, major hepatic resection, and intraoperative blood loss of >1.5L were independent and significant factors associated with postoperative morbidity. Conclusion:Routine abdominal drainage after hepatic resection is contraindicated in patients with chronic liver diseases.
Perceived Eye Region and the Processing of Fearful Expressions in Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the possibility of compensating early facial expression recognition impairments in amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (a-MCI) patients. Methods: Twelve patients with a-MCI and 17 healthy participants matched according to age and education participated in the study. The originality of the present study was to cue the recognition of facial expressions (happiness, anger, fear, and neutral) by comparing eye region expressions and entire facial expressions. Results: A deficit in the recognition of fearful expressions was observed in a-MCI patients relative to the control group, whereas recognition of all the other emotional expressions was spared. Nevertheless, when eye expressions cued the recognition of fearful facial expressions, the performance of normal controls and a-MCI patients was comparable. Conclusion: The present paper indicates a selective impairment in fear recognition in the prodromal state of Alzheimer’s disease, and the possibility of compensating this deficit by orienting selective attention on specific facial features.
Hybrid pump-wavelength configuration for optical packet switch with parametric wavelength converters

This paper proposes an optical packet switch (OPS) with parametric wavelength converters (PWCs) that combines the advantages of static pump wavelength assignment (SPA) switch and dynamic pump wavelength selection (DPS) switch to trade off the performance in terms of packet loss rate and processing time. Since SPA switch has faster processing time than DPS switch, while DPS switch achieves high performance in term of packet loss rate. The combination of those schemes is an alternative for a network manufacture to adjust the network switch suit on user requirements. Simulation in limited environment is done to show the performance of hybrid configuration between SPA and DPS switches. The results of proposed scheme are better than SPA switch but not up to DPS switch in term of packet loss rate, while worse than SPA switch but not worse than DPS switch in term of processing time. However, the replacing one of dynamic PWC with Static PWC could decrease much processing time but effects to packet loss rates just a little bit worse. The results provide the useful information for switch manufacture in order to design the switch in variety specifications, which are expected to satisfy the various user requirements.
A systematic review of the safety of black cohosh

Objective To systematically review the available data relating to the safety of medicinal extracts of black cohosh (Actaea racemosa). Design Systematic literature searches were conducted in seven electronic databases, and the reference lists of all papers located were checked for further relevant publications. Information was also sought from the spontaneous reporting programs of the World Health Organization and national drug safety bodies. Sixteen manufacturers of black cohosh preparations were contacted and asked for data held on file. Finally, our own departmental files were searched. No language restrictions were imposed. Combination products and homeopathic preparations were excluded. Results Data from clinical studies and spontaneous reporting programs suggest that adverse events (AEs) with black cohosh are rare, mild, and reversible. Gastrointestinal upsets and rashes are the most common AEs. The spontaneous reporting programs do contain a few serious AEs, including hepatic and circulatory conditions, but causality cannot be determined. Although there is large amount of data investigating the efficacy of black cohosh, in particular the product Remifemin, safety issues and the monitoring of AEs have not been the focus. Conclusion If black cohosh products are taken for a limited length of time, there seems to be a slight risk of mild, transient AEs. More serious AEs seem to be rare, and it is impossible to ascertain causality with black cohosh with the limited data available. Thus, although definitive evidence is not available, it would seem that black cohosh is a safe herbal medicine.
Hypolipidemic Effects of Starch and γ-Oryzanol from wx/ae Double-Mutant Rice on BALB/c.KOR-Apoe shl Mice

waxy/amylose-extender (wx/ae) double-mutant japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) produces resistant starch (RS) and a large amount of γ-oryzanol. Our previous study has shown the hypolipidemic effect of wx/ae brown rice on mice. To identify the functional constituents of the hypolipidemic activity in wx/ae rice, we prepared pure wx/ae starch and γ-oryzanol from wx/ae rice and investigated their effect on the lipid metabolism in BALB/c.KOR/Stm Slc-Apoe shl mice. The mice were fed for 3 weeks a diet containing non-mutant rice starch, non-mutant rice starch plus γ-oryzanol, wx/ae starch, or wx/ae starch plus γ-oryzanol. γ-Oryzanol by itself had no effect on the lipid metabolism, and wx/ae starch prevented an accumulation of triacylglycerol (TAG) in the liver. Interestingly, the combination of wx/ae starch plus γ-oryzanol not only prevented a TAG accumulation in the liver, but also partially suppressed the rise in plasma TAG concentration, indicating that wx/ae starch and γ-oryzanol could have a synergistic effect on the lipid metabolism.
Beasty Memories: The Quest for Practical Defense against Code Reuse Attacks

Code reuse attacks such as return-oriented programming (ROP) are predominant attack techniques that are extensively used to exploit vulnerabilities in modern software programs. ROP maliciously combines short instruction sequences (gadgets) residing in shared libraries and the application's executable to bypass data execution prevention (DEP) and launch targeted exploits. ROP attacks apply to many processor architectures from Intel x86 [1] to tiny embedded systems [2]. As a consequence, a variety of defenses have been proposed over the last few years - most prominently code randomization (ASLR) and control-flow integrity (CFI). Particularly, constructing practical CFI schemes has become a hot topic of research recently. In this talk, we present the evolution of return-oriented programming (ROP) attacks and defenses. We first give an overview of ROP attacks and techniques. Second, we investigate the security of software diversity based approaches such as finegrained code randomization [3]. Third, we dive deeper and focus on control-flow integrity (CFI) and show how to bypass all recent (coarse-grained) CFI solutions, including Microsoft's defense tool EMET [4]. Finally, we discuss new research directions to mitigate code reuse attacks, including our current work on hardware-assisted fine-grained control-flow integrity [5]. Part of this research [3-5] was conducted in collaboration with A. Dmitrienko, D. Lehmann, C. Liebchen, P. Koeberl, F. Monrose, and K. Z. Snow
South Africa's nutritional transition: overweight, obesity, underweight and stunting in female primary school learners in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

BACKGROUND Malnutrition substantially impacts the health outcomes of children. Globally, the childhood prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased, while underweight and stunting (though decreasing) continues to pose a major public health challenge. In low- to middle-income countries, a mixed pattern of over- and undernutrition (nutritional transition) can exist in communities. OBJECTIVE To describe the prevalence of malnutrition among female learners in the Nongoma and Ceza districts in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). METHODS We performed a secondary analysis of anthropometric data collected during the 2011 HPV Vaccination Demonstration Project. School health teams, comprising trained nurses, measured the height (in cm) and weight (in kg) of 963 female learners in 31 primary schools. Internationally accepted standardised measures were used as cut-offs for defining overweight, obesity, underweight and stunting. RESULTS We found evidence of both under- and overnutrition. Overall, 9% of female learners were overweight, 3.8% obese, 4% underweight and 9.2% stunted (using WHO/NCHS criteria). The highest levels of stunting were in the 11 - 12-year age groups, of underweight in the 10-year age group, of overweight and obesity in the 9 - 10-year age groups. Moreover, a proportion of underweight (17.4%), overweight (11.1%) and obese (22.9%) learners were also stunted. CONCLUSION Our study describes the prevalence of overweight and obesity, wasting and stunting of female learners in KZN and suggests the presence of a nutritional transition in these rural communities; however, further studies are needed. Our findings emphasise the need for health promotion and education programs in schools.
Molecular fluorine chemistry in the early Universe

Some models of Big Bang nucleosynthesis suggest that very high baryon density regions were formed in the early Universe, and generated the production of heavy elements other than lithium such as fluorine F. We present a comprehensive chemistry of fluorine in the post-recombination epoch. Calculation of F, F- and HF abundances, as a function of redshift z, are carried out. The main result is that the chemical conditions in the early Universe can lead to the formation of HF. The final abundance of the diatomic molecule HF is predicted to be close to 3.75 10(-17) when the initial abundance of neutral fluorine F is 10(-15). These results indicate that molecules of fluorine HF were already present during the dark age. This could have implications on the evolution of proto-objects and on the anisotropies of cosmic microwave background radiation. Hydride of fluorine HF may affect enhancement of the emission line intensity from the proto-objects and could produce spectral-spatial fluctuations.