Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of Protein–Protein Interactions Through Vesicle Targeting

The detection of protein–protein interactions through two-hybrid assays has revolutionized our understanding of biology. The remarkable impact of two-hybrid assay platforms derives from their speed, simplicity, and broad applicability. Yet for many organisms, the need to express test proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Escherichia coli presents a substantial barrier because variations in codon specificity or bias may result in aberrant protein expression. In particular, nonstandard genetic codes are characteristic of several eukaryotic pathogens, for which there are currently no genetically based systems for detection of protein–protein interactions. We have developed a protein–protein interaction assay that is carried out in native host cells by using GFP as the only foreign protein moiety, thus circumventing these problems. We show that interaction can be detected between two protein pairs in both the model yeast S. cerevisiae and the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. We use computational analysis of microscopic images to provide a quantitative and automated assessment of confidence.
Automated Design Debugging With Abstraction and Refinement

Design debugging is one of the major remaining manual processes in the semiconductor design cycle. Despite recent advances in the area of automated design debugging, more effort is required to cope with the size and complexity of today's designs. This paper introduces an abstraction and refinement methodology to enable current debuggers to operate on designs that are orders of magnitude larger than otherwise possible. Two abstraction techniques are developed with the goals of improving debugger performance for different circuit structures: State abstraction is aimed at reducing the problem size for circuits consisting purely of primitive gates, while function abstraction focuses on designs that also contain modular and hierarchical information. In both methods, after an initial abstracted model is created, the problem can be solved by an existing automated debugger. If an error site is abstracted, refinement is necessary to reintroduce some of the abstracted components back into the design. This paper also presents the underlying theory to guarantee correctness and completeness of a debugging tool that operates using the proposed methodology. Empirical results demonstrate improvements in run time and memory capacity of two orders of magnitude over a state-of-the-art debugger on a wide range of benchmark and industrial designs.
Structural and Enzymatic Characterization of ABgp46, a Novel Phage Endolysin with Broad Anti-Gram-Negative Bacterial Activity

The present study demonstrates the antibacterial potential of a phage endolysin against Gram-negative pathogens, particularly against multidrug resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii. We have cloned, heterologously expressed and characterized a novel endolysin (ABgp46) from Acinetobacter phage vb_AbaP_CEB1 and tested its antibacterial activity against several multidrug-resistant A. baumannii strains. LC-MS revealed that ABgp46 is an N-acetylmuramidase, that is also active over a broad pH range (4.0–10.0) and temperatures up to 50°C. Interestingly, ABgp46 has intrinsic and specific anti-A. baumannii activity, reducing multidrug resistant strains by up to 2 logs within 2 h. By combining ABgp46 with several organic acids that act as outer membrane permeabilizing agents, it is possible to increase and broaden antibacterial activity to include other Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. In the presence of citric and malic acid, ABgp46 reduces A. baumannii below the detection limit (>5 log) and more than 4 logs Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium strains. Overall, this globular endolysin exhibits a broad and high activity against Gram-negative pathogens, that can be enhanced in presence of citric and malic acid, and be used in human and veterinary medicine.
Joint Charging Tour Planning and Depot Positioning for Wireless Sensor Networks Using Mobile Chargers

Recent breakthrough in wireless energy transfer technology has enabled wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to operate with zero-downtime through the use of mobile energy chargers (MCs), that periodically replenish the energy supply of the sensor nodes. Due to the limited battery capacity of the MCs, a significant number of MCs and charging depots are required to guarantee perpetual operations in large scale networks. Existing methods for reducing the number of MCs and charging depots treat the charging tour planning and depot positioning problems separately even though they are inter-dependent. This paper is the first to jointly consider charging tour planning and MC depot positioning for large-scale WSNs. The proposed method solves the problem through the following three stages: charging tour planning, candidate depot identification and reduction, and depot deployment and charging tour assignment. The proposed charging scheme also considers the association between the MC charging cycle and the operational lifetime of the sensor nodes, in order to maximize the energy efficiency of the MCs. This overcomes the limitations of existing approaches, wherein MCs with small battery capacity ends up charging sensor nodes more frequently than necessary, while MCs with large battery capacity return to the depots to replenish themselves before they have fully transferred their energy to the sensor nodes. Compared with existing approaches, the proposed method leads to an average reduction in the number of MCs by 64%, and an average increase of 19.7 times on the ratio of total charging time over total traveling time.
Secular trends of fetal growth in Canada, 1981 to 1997.

Preterm birth and low birthweight in Canada have shown paradoxical temporal trends, with an increase in preterm birth and a decrease in low birthweight. Mean birthweight has increased in many industrialised countries, despite a recent rise in preterm birth, suggesting a temporal increase in fetal growth (birthweight for gestational age) in Canada. We thus described temporal trends in the distribution of fetal growth from 1981 to 1997, including means and proportions of infants at both the low and high ends of the fetal growth distribution. We used data for singleton live births from Statistics Canada's Canadian Birth Data Base for the years 1981-97 (excluding Ontario and Newfoundland) and analysed temporal trends in birthweight and birthweight-for-gestational-age z-score as continuous outcomes and the derived dichotomised outcomes [i.e. low birthweight (<2500 g), very low birthweight (<1500 g), small-for-gestational-age (<10th percentile), very small-for-gestational-age (<3rd percentile), high birthweight (>4000 g), very high birthweight (>4500 g), large-for-gestational-age (>90th percentile), and very large-for-gestational-age (>97th percentile)]. The birthweight-for-gestational-age was based on a newly developed population-based Canadian reference. The results showed that in the overall sample and in a subsample of term and post-term births, mean birthweight, mean z-score, rates of high birthweight, very high birthweight, large-for-gestational-age, and very large-for-gestational-age increased whereas rates of low birthweight, very low birthweight, small-for-gestational-age, and very small-for-gestational-age decreased between 1981-83 and 1995-97. The reverse was observed in preterm births. These temporal changes were larger for more extremely distributed measures of fetal growth. For example, compared with 1981-83, the decrease in 1995-97 for very small-for-gestational-age (<3rd percentile) was 38.9%, whereas the decrease for small-for-gestational-age (<10th percentile) was only 29.7%. Corresponding temporal increases were 21.4% for very large-for-gestational-age (>97th percentile) and 15.2% for large-for-gestational-age (>90th percentile). Among infants with gestational age 34-36 weeks, all measures of fetal growth, including the rates for all dichotomous outcomes, decreased in 1995-97 as compared with 1981-83. We conclude that Canadian infants are getting bigger, but only those born at term. The temporal trends for more extremely distributed fetal growth measures are particularly marked.
Corrosion of Non-Sensitized Austenitic Stainless Steels in Nitric Acid Environment: An Electrochemical Approach

The austenitic stainless steels are used in nuclear spent fuel reprocessing and waste management plants and the process fluid is nitric acid at temperature up to boiling point. However incorporation of oxidizing ions e.g. fission products as well as corrosion products, in nitric acid stream make the environment highly corrosive to stainless steels. Present work aims to investigate role of process parameters and material parameters (composition and microstructure) on corrosion behaviour of stainless steels. The process parameters studied are temperature, acid concentration and oxidizing ions. It has been shown that the potential attained on stainless steel is a function of acid concentration and temperature and is further strongly affected by addition of oxidizing ions. This developed potential determines the corrosion behaviour of stainless steel. Increasing the temperature and concentration of nitric acid and concentration of oxidizing species increased the developed potential. Potentials were applied to types 304 L (nitric acid grade - NAG), 304 L (commercial purity) and 310 L stainless steels in boiling 6 M nitric acid for a period of 48 h. The corrosion rates measured in such experiments were plotted as a function of applied potential. The form of corrosion was established by microstructural examination. A clear demarcation was observed between uniform corrosion and intergranular corrosion at a potential of 960-980 mVSCE. Above this potential range corrosion rate increased exponentially and the form of corrosion is shown to be intergranular corrosion. Below this potential range, uniform and low rate of corrosion occurred. The influence of microstructure (step, dual and ditch) of type 304 L was also studied and is described in this paper.
Hole–Mask Colloidal Lithography

Self-organization of colloidal particles on surfaces to form2D or 3D nanofabrication templates has been explored ac-tively in the past decade as an effective bottom-up method toproduce a plethora of nanoarchitectures with diverse func-tionalities. Specifically, several elegant approaches to patternsurfaces with large-scale 2D arrays of nanosized structuresthrough lateral self-assembly of colloidal spheres have beendeveloped. These methods are commonly termed colloidal li-thography (CL). A frequently used version of CL, nanospherelithography (NSL) employs organized 2D colloidal crystalswith a hexagonal close-packed motif as an evaporation mask,often in combination with reactive ion etching. Evaporationthrough the holes between close-packed nanospheres definesthe resulting pattern, and in many applications material de-position conditions such as evaporation angle or specific de-position technique (e.g., sputtering, thermal deposition) areused to vary the achieved patterns. With this method facileproduction of vast planar arrays of diverse nanostructures hasbeen accomplished.
Spatial and Contextual Factors in Human Performance on the Travelling Salesperson Problem

The travelling salesperson problem (TSP) provides a realistic and practical example of a visuo-spatial problem-solving task. In previous research, we have found that the quality of solutions produced by human participants for small TSPs compares well with solutions from a range of computer algorithms. We have proposed that the ability of participants to find solutions reflects the natural properties of human perception, solutions being found through global perceptual processing of the problem array to extract a best figure from the TSP points. In this paper, we extend the study of human performance on the task in order to understand further how human abilities are utilised in solving real-world TSPs. The results of experiment 1 show that high levels of solution quality are maintained in solving larger TSPs than had been investigated previously with human participants, and that the presence of an implied real-world context in the problems has no effect upon performance. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the presence of regularity in the point layout of a TSP can facilitate performance. This was confirmed in experiment 3, where effects of the internality of point clusters were also found. All three experiments were consistent with a global, perceptually based approach to the problem by participants. We suggest that the role of perceptual processing in spatial problem-solving is an important area for further research in both theoretical and applied domains.
A 13GHz VCO for integrated radiometer

An integrated 13-GHz VCO for a single-chip radiometer is presented. The VCO exhibits a large tuning range which thus allows to compensate for the tolerance affecting the free-running frequency without resorting to trimming or mixed analog-digital architecture. The VCO provides a direct 13 GHz and, thus, avoids frequency doubling.
Ion Induced Changes in the Structure of Bordered Pit Membranes

Ion-mediated changes in xylem hydraulic resistance are hypothesized to result from hydrogel like properties of pectins located in the bordered pit membranes separating adjacent xylem vessels. Although the kinetics of the ion-mediated changes in hydraulic resistance are consistent with the swelling/deswelling behavior of pectins, there is no direct evidence of this activity. In this report we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate structural changes in bordered pit membranes associated with changes in the ionic concentration of the surrounding solution. When submerged in de-ionized water, AFM revealed bordered pit membranes as relatively smooth, soft, and lacking any sharp edges surface, in contrast to pictures from scanning electron microscope (SEM) or AFM performed on air-dry material. Exposure of the bordered pit membranes to 50 mM KCl solution resulted in significant changes in both surface physical properties and elevation features. Specifically, bordered pit membranes became harder and the fiber edges were clearly visible. In addition, the membrane contracted and appeared much rougher due to exposed microfibers. In neither solution was there any evidence of discrete pores through the membrane whose dimensions were altered in response to the ionic composition of the surrounding solution. Instead the variable hydraulic resistance appears to involve changes in the both the permeability and the thickness of the pit membrane.
Optimizing Real-Time Vaccine Allocation in a Stochastic SIR Model

Real-time vaccination following an outbreak can effectively mitigate the damage caused by an infectious disease. However, in many cases, available resources are insufficient to vaccinate the entire at-risk population, logistics result in delayed vaccine deployment, and the interaction between members of different cities facilitates a wide spatial spread of infection. Limited vaccine, time delays, and interaction (or coupling) of cities lead to tradeoffs that impact the overall magnitude of the epidemic. These tradeoffs mandate investigation of optimal strategies that minimize the severity of the epidemic by prioritizing allocation of vaccine to specific subpopulations. We use an SIR model to describe the disease dynamics of an epidemic which breaks out in one city and spreads to another. We solve a master equation to determine the resulting probability distribution of the final epidemic size. We then identify tradeoffs between vaccine, time delay, and coupling, and we determine the optimal vaccination protocols resulting from these tradeoffs.
Poly-SiGe, a superb material for MEMS

In this overview article several MEMS applications of poly-SiGe are discussed: thermal applications, the application as a capping layer for MEMS wafer-level packaging and the use as MEMS structural layer for processing MEMS devices on top of CMOS. For all these applications also different deposition processes have been developed: chemical vapor deposition at reduced pressure (RPCVD), at low pressure (LPCVD) and with plasma enhancement (PECVD). Special techniques to reduce the processing temperature to the absolute minimum are reviewed as well: the use of hydrogenated microcrystalline SiGe, of metal-induced crystallization and of laser annealing. The latter methods are important when one wants to process SiGe MEMS above advanced CMOS with low-permittivity dielectrics.
Vascular Health and Risk Management Dovepress a Clinical Approach to Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease

you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms Abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular diseases, and increased mortality. Epidemiological studies have established these associations, and there are now numerous experimental and clinical studies which have provided information on the possible underlying mechanisms. Mechanistic proof-of-concept studies with surrogate endpoints have been performed to demonstrate that treatment of OSA by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has the potential to reverse or at least to attenuate not only OSA but also the adverse cardiovascular effects associated with OSA. However, no randomized studies have been performed to demonstrate that treatment of OSA by CPAP improves clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular risk factors and/or established cardiovascular disease and concomitant OSA. In the present review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of OSA as a potential cardiovascular risk factor, the impact of OSA on cardiac function, the role of OSA as a modifier of the course of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure, and the insights from studies evaluating the impact of CPAP therapy on the cardiovascular features associated with OSA.
Phase II angiogenesis stimulators

Introduction: Therapeutic angiogenesis is a strategy of inducing new collateral vessels and stimulating new capillaries that enhance tissue oxygen exchange in ischemic cardiovascular disorders, including acute myocardial infarction, chronic cardiac ischemia, peripheral artery disease and stroke. Areas covered: Over the last 10 years, promising results of early clinical trials have generated great expectation on the potential of therapeutic angiogenesis. However, even if large randomized placebo-controlled and double-blinded Phase II clinical trials have confirmed the feasibility, safety and potential effectiveness of therapeutic angiogenesis, they provided very limited evidence of its efficacy in terms of clinical benefit. Expert opinion: Results of the latest trials on therapeutic angiogenesis have not provided satisfactory results. Much is still unknown about the optimal delivery of angiogenic factors. Trials using alternative growth factors, dose regimens and methods of delivery are needed to enhance the treatment benefit of therapeutic angiogenesis.
Assessing user interfaces for diverse user groups: Evaluation strategies and defining characteristics

User interface designers are challenged to design for diverse users, including those of different genders, cultures and abilities; however, little research has been directed at this problem. One factor which may inhibit such research is its cost. This paper presents an approach which offers a way to seek out important characteristics of designs in a cost-effective way and reports on the results. In a study reported here, subjects from different nationalities and of both genders evaluated three dialog boxes specifically designed for 'white American women'. 'European adult male intellectuals', and 'English-speaking-internationals'. The dialog boxes were evaluated with conjoint techniques of preference rankings, and factor-analysed adjective ratings. These results showed that female subjects had stronger and more consistent patterns of preferences than the male subjects. All subjects preferred interfaces rated high on an accessibility factor and disliked complex layouts; this effect was even stronger for wom.
Effect of HELLO interval duration on stable routing for mobile ad hoc networks

As the demand for mobile ad hoc wireless network (MANET) applications grows there is a need to research how to maintain the quality of the connections in such networks where communication is performed without a fixed infrastructure. Compared to static wireless networks, little academic research has been done on message overhead control in MANETs. In this paper, we are particularly concerned with position-based MANETs where, as part of the MANET protocols to maintain nodes' lists of current neighbors, at regular intervals all nodes send HELLO beacon messages containing their ID and current position information to their neighbors. Since the choice of the duration of the HELLO message interval can not be arbitrary, the interval size is one of the significant issues that needs be investigated further to make communication reliable in MANETs. Therefore, we study the effect of varying the length of the time interval on two contrasting types of greedy-based stable routing protocols for MANETs, one using backup paths and the other using a conservative neighborhood range, in terms of the number of control messages exchanged and throughput for the protocols.
The capacity theory of comprehension: new frontiers of evidence and arguments.

A capacity theory of comprehension (M.A. Just & P.A. Carpenter, 1992) has provided an integrated account of several central aspects of sentence comprehension, such as the processing of syntactic ambiguity, complex embeddings, syntactic (non) modularity, and individual differences, in terms of the working-memory capacity for language. Some of the evidence supporting the theory is questioned by G.S. Waters and D. Caplan (1996a). This article identifies some of Waters and Caplan's errors about the empirical support in Just and Carpenter (1992), evaluates Waters and Caplan's alternative hypothesis, and presents the results of a new neuroimaging study that supports capacity theory and not Waters and Caplan's separate resources hypothesis.
Polar Codes for the  $m$-User Multiple Access Channel

In this paper, polar codes for the m-user multiple access channel (MAC) with binary inputs are constructed. It is shown that Arikan's polarization technique applied individually to each user transforms independent uses of an m-user binary input MAC into successive uses of extremal MACs. This transformation has a number of desirable properties: 1) the “uniform sum-rate” of the original MAC is preserved, 2) the extremal MACs have uniform rate regions that are not only polymatroids but matroids, and thus, 3) their uniform sum-rate can be reached by each user transmitting either uncoded or fixed bits; in this sense, they are easy to communicate over. A polar code can then be constructed with an encoding and decoding complexity of O(n log n) (where n is the block length), a block error probability of o(exp (- n1/2 - ε)), and capable of achieving the uniform sum-rate of any binary input MAC with arbitrary many users. Applications of this polar code construction to channels with a finite field input alphabet and to the additive white Gaussian noise channel are also discussed.