Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strategies for discovery and improvement of enzyme function: state of the art and opportunities

Developments in biocatalysis have been largely fuelled by consumer demands for new products, industrial attempts to improving existing process and minimizing waste, coupled with governmental measures to regulate consumer safety along with scientific advancements. One of the major hurdles to application of biocatalysis to chemical synthesis is unavailability of the desired enzyme to catalyse the reaction to allow for a viable process development. Even when the desired enzyme is available it often forces the process engineers to alter process parameters due to inadequacies of the enzyme, such as instability, inhibition, low yield or selectivity, etc. Developments in the field of enzyme or reaction engineering have allowed access to means to achieve the ends, such as directed evolution, de novo protein design, use of non‐conventional media, using new substrates for old enzymes, active‐site imprinting, altering temperature, etc. Utilization of enzyme discovery and improvement tools therefore provides a feasible means to overcome this problem. Judicious employment of these tools has resulted in significant advancements that have leveraged the research from laboratory to market thus impacting economic growth; however, there are further opportunities that have not yet been explored. The present review attempts to highlight some of these achievements and potential opportunities.
Phase II Study of Ifosfamide+Doxorubicin in Patients With Advanced Synovial Sarcomas (E1793): A Trial of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group

Purpose Because we had observed in the synovial sarcoma subgroup of a broad phase III advanced soft tissue sarcoma study a significantly greater objective regression rate from ifosfamide+doxorubicin (88%) than from doxorubicin alone (20%) (P = 0.02), the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) decided to further assess this two drug combination in a subsequent Phase II study. Patients Between 1994 and 1999, twelve adult patients with advanced synovial sarcomas were enrolled to receive, as their initial chemotherapy, ifosfamide 7.5 gm/m2 plus doxorubicin 60 mg/m2, given intravenously over two consecutive days every 3 weeks. Methods Each day for 2 days doxorubicin 30 mg/m2 was infused over 5 min through a running i.v. , followed by ifosfamide 3750 mg/m2 over 4 h. Continuous i.v. fluid was infused at 300 mL/h for 3 h on day 1, before chemotherapy was begun; then the infusion was continued at 100 mL/h for a total of 3 days. Mesna 750 mg/m2 was given 15 min before ifosfamide and at 4 and 8 h after ifosfamide on days 1 and 2 of each treatment cycle. Filgrastim (G-CSF) 5 μg/kg was given subcutaneously each day for 14 days beginning on day 3 of each treatment cycle to limit the severity of neutropenia. Results Five of our 12 patients (42%) experienced partial regression of their advanced synovial sarcomas; however, this first stage result was borderline for proceeding to the second planned stage of accrual and our case accrual was quite poor. Thus, the study was closed after stage one accrual. Our patients received a median of four cycles of chemotherapy (range: 1 to 6). All patients experienced at least grade 3 neutropenia (grade 4 in nine of them), and one patient died of treatment-related sepsis following the initial cycle of chemotherapy. Median survival was 11 months.
Hip Hop Matters: Politics, Pop Culture, and the Struggle for the Soul of a Movement

Avoiding the easy definitions and caricatures that tend to celebrate or condemn the "hip hop generation," Hip Hop Matters focuses on fierce and far-reaching battles being waged in politics, pop culture, and academe to assert control over the movement. At stake, Watkins argues, is the impact hip hop has on the lives of the young people who live and breathe the culture. He presents incisive analysis of the corporate takeover of hip hop and the rampant misogyny that undermines the movement's progressive claims. Ultimately, we see how hip hop struggles reverberate in the larger world: global media consolidation; racial and demographic flux; generational cleavages; the reinvention of the pop music industry; and the ongoing struggle to enrich the lives of ordinary youth.
Nosology and Prevalence of Sleep Disorders

Although the initial sleep disorders classifications provided a framework for categorizing diagnoses, these early instruments had a number of limitations. Among their shortcomings were a lack of specific diagnostic criteria, limited clinical validation, and an overreliance on sleep laboratory findings. As a result, many of the diagnoses were not only poorly substantiated, but they lacked clinical relevance. Also, because of a fusing of diagnoses, a causal relationship was implied that may have been nonexistent and could misdirect the treatment focus. The ICD-10 represents a clinically based diagnostic classification. Furthermore, this classification system includes diagnostic criteria and encourages multiple diagnoses for a more complete description of the patient's clinical presentation. In addition, the ICD-10 allows for differentiation of psychogenic, developmental, and organic factors. Finally, it can be fully applied in the office setting, which allows physicians to maximize their interviewing and assessment skills to complete the diagnoses and subsequent treatment plans. Thus, this classification system strongly reinforces the doctor-patient relationship. It also facilitates consideration of the entire scope of the patient's problems in a truly biopsychosocial perspective. The prevalence of insomnia ranges across studies from 20 to 30% of the adult population. Before adulthood, its prevalence is below 2%. About 5% of adults complain of excessive daytime sleepiness. Among the conditions of excessive daytime sleepiness, narcolepsy has a prevalence of 0.1% and sleep apnea not more than 1% in the general adult population. Nightmares have a prevalence of about 5% in adulthood and 20% in childhood. Sleepwalking and night terrors have a prevalence of less than 1% in adulthood and 15 and 5%, respectively, in childhood. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sistema de recomendação para apoiar a construção de gráficos com dados estatísticos

Research on statistical data visualization emphasizes the need for systems that assist in decision-making and visual analysis. Having found problems in chart construction by novice users, we researched the following question: How can we support novice users to create efficient visualizations with statistical data? To address this question, this paper describes ViSC, a recommender system that supports the interactive construction of charts to visualize statistical data by offering a series of recommendations based on the selected data and on the user interaction with the tool. The system explores a visualization ontology to offer a set of graphs that help to answer information-based questions related to the current graph data. By traversing the recommended graphs through their related questions, the user implicitly acquires knowledge both on the domain and on visualization resources that better represent the domain concepts of interest. This paper also reports a qualitative study conducted to evaluate ViSC, using two methods: the Semiotic Inspection Method (SIM) and a Retrospective Communicability Evaluation (RCE) ---a combination of the Communicability Evaluation Method (CEM) and Retrospective Think Aloud Protocol. We first analyze how the questions influence the users' traversal through the graph and then address the broader question. We concluded the questions were important to generate efficient visualizations and thus, an efficient solution to help novice users in chart constructions.
Youth Offending in Transition: The Search for Social Recognition

Taking a new approach to youth crime, this book argues that the transition from childhood to adulthood can be an isolating and disempowering experience for young people. Children and young people are inherently vulnerable because of their age and status – they are a minority group, with the potential for being exploited, discriminated against, dominated and disrespected by adults. Youth Offending in Transition explores how their treatment by adult society may lead young people to resort to crime as a means of gaining respect from their peers.
Thinking the Unthinkable : The Effects of Anchoring on Likelihood Estimates of Nuclear Warl

"Anchoring" results from insufficient adjustment up or down from an original­ often arbitrary-starting value. Six sets of surveys were designed to assess the effects of anchoring on subjective likelihood estimates of a nuclear war. Based on responses from 1600 students. results indicated that: (a) likelihood estimates were strongly susceptible to anchoring: (b) neither likelihood estimates nor the effects of anchoring were significantly influenced by the ease with which respondents could imagine a nuclear war (outcome availability), by instructions to list the most likely path to nuclear war (path availability). or by casting the problem in terms of the avoidance. rather than the occurrence. of nuclear war; (c) the effects of anchoring extended to estimates concerning the efficacy of strategic defenses: and (d) likelihood estimates were affected by anchoring even after correcting for social demand biases. In estimat­ ing the likelihood of nuclear war and otherwise attempting to "think the unthinkable," many students responded in a manner consistent with denial: the paper concludes with a discussion of these individuals.
Mesopores provide an amorphous state suitable for studying biomolecular structures at cryogenic temperatures

In nano-confinements, aqueous solutions can be found to remain in a liquid state at subfreezing temperatures. The finding provides a means of entering into previously inaccessible temperature regions for studying the dynamics and structure of bulk liquid. Here we show that studying biomolecular structures in nano-confinements improves the accuracy of cryostructures and provides better insight into the relationship between hydration water and biomolecules. Synthetic prion protein peptides are studied in two experimental conditions: (i) in confined nanochannels within mesoporous materials, and (ii) in vitrified bulk solvents, with a temperature range of 50–275 K, using cw/pulse ESR techniques. A large inhomogeneous lineshape broadening is only observed for the spectra from the vitrified bulk solvent below 70 K, suggesting a possible peptide clustering in the solution. The spin-counting and distance measurements by DEER-ESR provide further evidence that peptides are dispersed homogeneously in mesopores but heterogeneously in vitrified solvents wherein the biomolecular structure is disturbed due to heterogeneity in the bulk solvent structure. Our study demonstrates that the nanospace within mesoporous materials provides an amorphous environment that is better than vitrified bulk solvent for studying biostructures at cryogenic temperatures.
Monitoring and reporting of fingerprint image quality and match accuracy for a large user application

The main objective of this paper is to present the methodology used for measuring and monitoring the quality of fingerprint database and fingerprint match performance of a large user fingerprint identification system. The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) biometric identification system is used as an example for this study. In addition the paper presents lessons learned during system performance testing and independent validation and verification analysis of large scale systems such as DHS's biometric system and recommend improvements for the current test methodology.
Inhibition of Renal Prostaglandin Synthesis and Metabolism by Indomethacin in Rats

Summary The effect of indomethacin and other NSAID on renal prostaglandin synthesis and metabolism was studied in nondiuretic rats prepared for acute experimentation. Thirty minutes after the administration of a 2 mg/kg iv dose of indomethacin, the concentration of prostaglandin in renal venous blood as determined by bioassay was reduced 69%. In addition, conversion of radiolabeled arachidonic acid to prostaglandin E2 in vitro by the renal papillae of indomethacin pretreated rats was inhibited 97%. Pretreatment with indomethacin also inhibited renal cortical-medullary prostaglandin E2 9-ketoreductase activity by 61%. NAD+-dependent 15-hydroxy-prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity was diminished 46%; however, this inhibition was not statistically significant. NADP+-dependent 15-hydroxy-prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity was unaffected by pretreatment. It is concluded that indomethacin alters net renal prostaglandin production by inhibiting both prostaglandin synthesis and its metabolism.
Introduction to the Philosophies of Research and Criticism in Education and the Social Sciences

Part One Research in Education and the Social Sciences: Historical and Philosophical Influences Shaping Perspectives on Knowledge, James L. Paul Philosophy for Educational Research, Lynda Stone Part Two Perspectivism and Critique of Research: An Overview, James L. Paul, Ben Graffam, and Kathleen Fowler Nine Perspectives of Educational Research Part Three Introduction to Critiques The Perspectives as Critiques Selection of Studies and Considerations in the Critiques, James L. Paul Challenges Facing Researchers and Scholars in the 21st Century, James L. Paul Key Words
Interactive reconstruction of industrial sites using parametric models

We present a new interactive modeling technique for reconstructing 3D objects from multiple images. We specifically address the problems that arise in industrial environments during camera orientation, image segmentation and modeling. An accurate camera orientation is ensured by using coded markers and surveyed points from a total station. Interactive segmentations of edges and regions in the images are used as input for fitting parametric models to the scene. We provide an intuitive interface which allows modeling artificial objects without having extensive knowledge about 3D modeling or photogrammetry.
Modern statistical estimation via oracle inequalities

A number of fundamental results in modern statistical theory involve thresholding estimators. This survey paper aims at reconstructing the history of how thresholding rules came to be popular in statistics and describing, in a not overly technical way, the domain of their application. Two notions play a fundamental role in our narrative: sparsity and oracle inequalities. Sparsity is a property of the object to estimate, which seems to be characteristic of many modern problems, in statistics as well as applied mathematics and theoretical computer science, to name a few. ‘Oracle inequalities’ are a powerful decision-theoretic tool which has served to understand the optimality of thresholding rules, but which has many other potential applications, some of which we will discuss. Our story is also the story of the dialogue between statistics and applied harmonic analysis. Starting with the work of Wiener, we will see that certain representations emerge as being optimal for estimation. A leitmotif throughout our exposition is that efficient representations lead to efficient estimation.
Harnessed: How Language and Music Mimicked Nature and Transformed Ape to Man

The scientific consensus is that our ability to understand human speech has evolved over hundreds of thousands of years. After all, there are whole portions of the brain devoted to human speech. We learn to understand speech before we can even walk, and can seamlessly absorb enormous amounts of information simply by hearing it. Surely we evolved this capability over thousands of generations. Or did we? Portions of the human brain are also devoted to reading. Children learn to read at a very young age and can seamlessly absorb information even more quickly through reading than through hearing. We know that we didn't evolve to read because reading is only a few thousand years old. In Harnessed, cognitive scientist Mark Changizi demonstrates that human speech has been very specifically "designed" to harness the sounds of nature, sounds we've evolved over millions of years to readily understand. Long before humans evolved, mammals have learned to interpret the sounds of nature to understand both threats and opportunities. Our speech--regardless of language--is very clearly based on the sounds of nature. Even more fascinating, Changizi shows that music itself is based on natural sounds. Music--seemingly one of the most human of inventions--is literally built on sounds and patterns of sound that have existed since the beginning of time. From Library Journal: "Many scientists believe that the human brain's capacity for language is innate, that the brain is actually "hard-wired" for this higher-level functionality. But theoretical neurobiologist Changizi (director of human cognition, 2AI Labs; The Vision Revolution) brilliantly challenges this view, claiming that language (and music) are neither innate nor instinctual to the brain but evolved culturally to take advantage of what the most ancient aspect of our brain does best: process the sounds of nature . it will certainly intrigue evolutionary biologists, linguists, and cultural anthropologists and is strongly recommended for libraries that have Changizi's previous book. " From Forbes: "In his latest book, Harnessed, neuroscientist Mark Changizi manages to accomplish the extraordinary: he says something compellingly new about evolution.Instead of tackling evolution from the usual position and become mired in the usual arguments, he focuses on one aspect of the larger story so central to who we are, it may very well overshadow all others except the origin of life itself: communication. "
A one-year survey of gonococcal infection seen in the genitourinary medicine department of a London district general hospital

The results of a one-year clinical, epidemiological and microbiological survey of gonococcal infection presenting to the Patrick Clements Clinic (PCC), a London district general hospital (DGH) genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, are presented. Clinical and epidemiological patient data were collected by a combination of questionnaire and retrospective case-note review. Microscopy performance within the PCC, outcome of treatment, return for tests of cure and efficacy of contact tracing were assessed. Isolates were tested for susceptibility to penicillin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. The study showed the PCC continues to diagnose and treat over 200 cases of gonorrhoea per year. High level resistance to penicillin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin was documented among the year's isolates and antibiotic resistance was linked to acquisition of gonorrhoea overseas. Despite interviewing 183 patients concerning health advice and contact tracing issues, only 55% of new episodes re-attended for a first test of cure. In addition, only 29% of reported sexual contacts attended GUM clinics for investigation and treatment.
Investigation of surfactant protein-D and interleukin-6 levels in patients with blunt chest trauma with multiple rib fractures and pulmonary contusions: a cross-sectional study in Black Sea Region of Turkey

Objective Multiple rib fractures (RFs) and pulmonary contusions (PCs), with resulting systemic lung inflammation, are the most common injuries caused by blunt chest trauma (BCT) in motor vehicle accidents. This study examined levels of the inflammation marker interleukin (IL)-6 and those of the acute-phase reactant surfactant protein (SP)-D in patients with BCT. Design Prospective, cross-sectional, observational study. Setting Single-centre, tertiary care hospital in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. Participants The study included 60 patients with BCT who were hospitalised in our thoracic surgery department. Parameters measures The SP-D and IL-6 serum levels of patients with RFs (two or more RFs) (n=30) and patients with PCs (n=30) were measured after 6 hours, 24 hours and 7 days, and compared with those of age-matched and gender-matched healthy participants. Results The 6-hour serum SP-D levels of the RFs (p=0.017) and PCs (p<0.001) groups were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls. The 24-hour and 7-day SP-D levels of both groups were also higher than the control group. The serum IL-6 levels of both groups were significantly higher than those of the control group. We have found Injury Severity Score to be independently related to 6-hour IL-6 (β=1.414, p<0.001) and 24-hour IL-6 levels (β=1.067, p<0.001). The development of complications was independently related to 6-hour SP-D level (β=0.211, p=0.047). Conclusions RFs and PCs after BCT lead to local and systemic inflammation due to lung injury. The levels of the systemic inflammation marker IL-6 and those of the acute-phase reactant SP-D were elevated in the present study. The SP-D level may be used as a marker in the follow-up of BCT-related complications.
What causes ADHD? : understanding what goes wrong and why

Part I: Conceptual Context. ADHD's Controversies. Defining "Disorder. " Part II: How Does ADHD Work? Neural Systems. Attention and Arousal. Executive Functioning or Cognitive Control. Motivation. Motor Control and Timing. Part III: Where Does ADHD Come From? Multiple Pathways. Genetic Effects. Uncommon Experiential Risk Factors. Common Experiential Risk Factors. Part IV: Integration. Multiple Pathways Reconsidered. Conclusion.
DFIG-based damping controller design to damp low frequency oscillations in power plant industry

Damping low frequency oscillations of power systems is one of the most important determinants of system stability. Due to the increasing growth of wind farms with high penetration levels in power systems as well as their participation and control, it seems important to increase the damping system oscillations. In this paper, doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs) were used for damping the power oscillations. For this purpose, a fuzzy controller as a power oscillation damper (FPOD) was applied to DFIG control loop as backup control and also input and output scales of fuzzy controller were optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The main reason was use this hybrid approach is to enhance disturbance rejection and reduction, through fuzzy systems. In order to clarify the DFIG capability in mitigating the inter-area oscillations, non-linear simulations were carried out by MATLAB/Simulink. Simulation study in a four-machine two-area power system show that the DFIG with a FPOD controller was superior to the conventional POD in terms of stabilizing effect as well as robustness against various power generating and loading conditions, unpredictable network structure, and random wind patterns.
Battery-aware power management techniques for wearable haptic nodes

Haptic feedback provides an effective means of transferring information through tactile stimulation. In this work we look into the use of tactors for haptic feedback in body-worn contexts where individuals are allowed to move around. In this context it is crucial to design low power systems that allow the activation of multiple tactors at the same time with limited battery power. We investigate how to minimize tactor power consumption by tuning the characteristics of their excitatory signal and present an activation policy to maximize the number of tactors that can be simultaneously powered by a battery under a tight peak current constraint. The proposed optimizations reduce power consumption and allow a much higher number of simultaneously active tactors. Furthermore, we provide a design strategy whereby designers can tune the maximum number of simultaneously allowed active tactors based on battery and system requirements.