Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolving enhancer-promoter interactions within the tinman complex of the flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

Modifications of cis-regulatory DNAs, particularly enhancers, underlie changes in gene expression during animal evolution. Here, we present evidence for a distinct mechanism of regulatory evolution, whereby a novel pattern of gene expression arises from altered gene targeting of a conserved enhancer. The tinman gene complex (Tin-C) controls the patterning of dorsal mesodermal tissues, including the dorsal vessel or heart in Drosophila. Despite broad conservation of Tin-C gene expression patterns in the flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum), the honeybee (Apis mellifera) and the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), the expression of a key pericardial determinant, ladybird, is absent from the dorsal mesoderm of Tribolium embryos. Evidence is presented that this loss in expression is replaced by expression of C15, the neighboring gene in the complex. This switch in expression from ladybird to C15 appears to arise from an inversion within the tinman complex, which redirects a conserved ladybird 3′ enhancer to regulate C15. In Drosophila, this enhancer fails to activate C15 expression owing to the activity of an insulator at the intervening ladybird early promoter. By contrast, a chromosomal inversion allows the cardiac enhancer to bypass the ladybird insulator in Tribolium. Given the high frequency of genome rearrangements in insects, it is possible that such enhancer switching might be widely used in the diversification of the arthropods.
Polyamine-deficient Neurospora crassa mutants and synthesis of cadaverine

The polyamine path of Neurospora crassa originates with the decarboxylation of ornithine to form putrescine (1,4-diaminobutane). Putrescine acquires one or two aminopropyl groups to form spermidine or spermine, respectively. We isolated an ornithine decarboxylase-deficient mutant and showed the mutation to be allelic with two previously isolated polyamine-requiring mutants. We here name the locus spe-1. The three spe-1 mutants form little or no polyamines and grow well on medium supplemented with putrescine, spermidine, or spermine. Cadaverine (1,5-diaminopentane), a putrescine analog, supports very slow growth of spe-1 mutants. An arginase-deficient mutant (aga) can be deprived of ornithine by growth in the presence of arginine, because arginine feedback inhibits ornithine synthesis. Like spe-1 cultures, the ornithine-deprived aga culture failed to make the normal polyamines. However, unlike spe-1 cultures, it had highly derepressed ornithine decarboxylase activity and contained cadaverine and aminopropylcadaverine (a spermidine analog), especially when lysine was added to cells. Moreover, the ornithine-deprived aga culture was capable of indefinite growth. It is likely that the continued growth is due to the presence of cadaverine and its derivatives and that ornithine decarboxylase is responsible for cadaverine synthesis from lysine. In keeping with this, an inefficient lysine decarboxylase activity (Km greater than 20 mM) was detectable in N. crassa. It varied in constant ratio with ornithine decarboxylase activity and was wholly absent in the spe-1 mutants.
Feature Extraction of Surface EMG Signal Based on Wavelet Coefficient Entropy

This paper introduces a novel and simple method to extract the general feature of two surface EMG signal patterns: forearm supination (FS) surface EMG signal and forearm pronation (FP) surface EMG signal. The method decomposes surface EMG signal into 16 Frequency bands (FB) by wavelet packet transform (WPT), and then wavelet coefficient entropy (WCE) of two chosen FBs is calculated. The two WCEs were used to distinguish FS surface EMG signals from FP surface EMG signals. The result shows that WCE is an effective method for extracting the feature from surface EMG signal.
Ship features and classification in hi-resolution SAR images with object backscattering part and surf array

Vast marine area possesses over 3/4 of the global surface, where human activities occur more and more. Over 90% of imported crude oil in China is transported by oil tankers, which comprise the main part of vessel fleets in the China seas. Fishery is another human activity in the oceans, which is related to resource management and EEZ protection. Both maritime traffic and fishery law enforcement need an efficient monitoring technology over vast ocean surface, while vessel detection and recognition are the primary requirement in the maritime monitoring. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) has shown its capability to detect vessels in the ocean since the launch of SAR satellites (C. Liu and P.W. Vachon, 2004). With the hi-resolution SAR satellites launched during the last 3 years, it becomes possible to reveal more ship features in the SAR images and classify various ships (H. Greidanus and N. Kourti, 2006, G. Margarit, et al., 2006).
The Moderating Effects of Power Distance and Collectivism on Empowering Leadership and Psychological Empowerment and Self-Leadership in International Development Organizations

This study used quantitative research to investigate the acceptability and effectiveness of empowering leadership in various cultural contexts. The importance of finding appropriate leadership styles to use in cross-cultural situations is paramount. Development organizations as well as multinational organizations struggle to find appropriate forms of leadership that are effective in mobilizing the workforce in highly diverse cultural contexts. The effects of empowering leadership on psychological empowerment and self-leadership are measured in two cultural contexts representing both high and low power distance and collectivism to explore how empowering leadership behaviors affect the empowerment of subordinates. This research is located within five intersecting theoretical frameworks: empowerment, psychological empowerment, empowering leadership, cross-cultural studies, and African leadership studies. Two hundred forty-five surveys were collected—121 from Rwanda and 124 from the United States. The self-report surveys assessed followers’ perception of their leader’s empowering leadership, as well as the followers’ cultural values and psychological empowerment and self-leadership. First, hierarchical regression analysis showed that empowering leadership has a significant positive effect on both psychological empowerment and self-leadership in both cultural context. This research contributes to the field of empowerment by offering empirical evidence that empowering leadership is appropriate and effective in both high and low power distance and collectivism cultures. Second, hierarchical regression analysis with tests for moderation show that power distance moderates these relationships, especially in high power distance cultures, while collectivism only moderates occasionally. This contributes to the field of cross-cultural studies by indicating that power distance is a cultural value that can have a moderating effect and needs to be included in future cross-cultural studies. This thesis provides evidence that empowering leadership is an effective form of leadership that produces employee empowerment in diverse cultural contexts, and it provides new insights into an appropriate form of leadership for international development organizations to implement when working overseas. Empowering Leadership in Different Cultural Contexts iv
Pharmacokinetics and concentration–effect relationships of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and fusion proteins

Although monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) constitute a major advance in therapeutics, their pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties are not fully understood. Saturable mechanisms are thought to occur in distribution and elimination of mAbs, which are protected from degradation by the Brambell’s receptor (FcRn). The binding of mAbs to their target antigen explains part of their nonlinear PK and PD properties. The interindividual variability in mAb PK can be explained by several factors, including immune response against the biodrug and differences in the number of antigenic sites. The concentration–effect relationships of mAbs are complex and dependent on their mechanism of action. Interindividual differences in mAb PD can be explained by factors such as genetics and clinical status. PK and concentration–effect studies are necessary to design optimal dosing regimens. Because of their above-mentioned characteristics, the interindividual variability in their dose–response relationships must be studied by PK–PD modelling.
Determinants of Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions Targeting Africa: 1991-2011

The fast output growth that a number of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have achieved in the last decade has led to significant inflow of FDI into the continent. A number of studies have examined the trend of such FDI inflows generally but only a few have focused on these flows that are mainly mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Using a dynamic panel data model, this paper examines the determinants of FDI that targeted Africa between 1990 and 2011, a period when the continent exhibited high and sustained economic growth. The paper finds that the trend of M&A in Africa is similar to that of the other developing regions suggesting that the underlying factors driving M&A globally also apply to Africa. However, M&A activity in Africa respond with a lag, showing the role of inertia in driving M&A activity. In particular, we find that M&A targeting Africa responds positively and significantly to international stock markets (S&P) and international bond yields (G7). Internal factors which are location specific are also important determinants. Not surprisingly, given the continentâ€™s endowment in natural resources such as oil and rare metals, and the high demand for such commodities in this period, our results further indicate that natural resources are a positive driver of M&A targeting Africa.
Cystatin C as a predictor of mortality and cardiovascular morbidity after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

BACKGROUND Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been reported to improve symptoms and cardiac performance in patients with severe heart failure (HF), but CRT recipients with advanced HF do not always experience improved mortality rates. Cystatin C has recently been involved in HF, but the association of serum cystatin C level with adverse events and long-term prognosis after CRT is unknown. This study investigated whether cystatin C level can predict mortality and cardiovascular events after CRT. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 117 consecutive patients receiving a CRT device for the treatment of advanced HF were assessed according to cystatin C level and long-term outcome after implantation of the device. Over a median follow-up of 3.2 years, 34 patients (29.1%) died and 59 patients (50.4%) developed cardiovascular events. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that elevated cystatin C level was significantly associated with higher all-cause mortality and prevalence of cardiovascular events, including hospitalization for progressive HF. After multivariate Cox regression analysis, serum cystatin C level and QRS duration, but not conventional echocardiographic parameters, were found to independently predict all-cause death or cardiovascular events. Of importance, only cystatin C level was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality after CRT. CONCLUSIONS Cystatin C level independently predicts cardiac mortality or morbidity in patients receiving CRT. The assessment of cystatin C level could provide valuable information about long-term prognosis after CRT.
Transparency of Health Toward Bureaucracy Reforms in the Province of North Maluku in 2015

This study aimed to get an overview of the health administrative transparency in the reform of the bureaucracy in the province of North Maluku in 5 health centers at 5 District North Maluku. This study used quantitative analysis survey, and The sample using multistage simple random sampling technique. The low transparency of health administration in the reform of the bureaucracy in the province of North Maluku. Research shows that in the transparency, the majority of respondents still feels the service is open, but do not ignore the other respondents who claimed never to have felt it. Even that has seen no open service access due to the difficulty of access. Standardization costs already felt the majority of respondents in the aspect of transparency of health care costs (78.66%), but do not ignore the opinion of the respondents (18%) claimed lack of transparency in health care costs in the health centers. The idea of change in the bureaucratic system of health center services through transparency of health services at the health center, the majority (93.66%) wanted a system is necessary to change the bureaucratic system more transparent with a wish for Commitment aspects of bureaucratic apparatus in a running system, provide facilities for services, change the behavior of the apparatus in service. Similarly, most respondent eager for health care to the community conducted openly and fairly (50%), Bureaucracy as the engine of government administration should be free from corruption (36%) and Services are concerned with the public interest more important than the interests of the group / private (13, 66%). For this to materialize, the majority of respondents want to be responsible for reform of the health care bureaucracy is a central government / local (82%) and "Private / companies (18%). Necessary to change the bureaucratic system of health center services through transparency of health services for the realization aspects Commitment bureaucratic apparatus in the running system, the urgency of the provision of care facilities, changed the behavior of the apparatus in service in North Maluku. The results of this research may reform health care more transparent administration in the province of North Maluku.
The Relationship Between Running Speed and Measures of Vertical Jump in Professional Basketball Players: A Field-Test Approach

Shalfawi, SAI, Sabbah, A, Kailani, G, Tønnessen, E, and Enoksen, E. The relationship between running speed and measures of vertical jump in professional basketball players: A field-test approach. J Strength Cond Res 25(11): 3088–3092, 2011—The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between vertical jump measures and sprint speed over 10, 20, and 40 m in professional basketball players. Thirty-three professional basketball players aged (±SD) (27.4 ± 3.3 years), body mass (89.8 ± 11.1 kg), and stature (192 ± 8.2 cm) volunteered to participate in this study. All participants were tested on squat jump, countermovement jump, and 40-m running speed. The results show that all jump measures in absolute terms were correlated significantly to running performance over 10-, 20-, and 40-m sprint times. None of the jumping performance peak powers and reactive strength were found to have a correlation to running speed times in absolute term. Furthermore, all jump height measures relative to body mass except reactive strength had a marked and significant relationship with all sprint performance times. The results of this study indicate that while there is a strong and marked relationship between 10-, 20-, and 40-m sprint, there is also a considerable variation within the factors that contribute to performance over these distances. This may indicate that, separate training strategies could be implemented to improve running speed over these distances.
A kinetic model of a PD pulse within voids of sub-millimeter dimensions

A two-dimensional Particle-in-Cell based Monte Carlo Collision model is used to study the dynamics of a spark-type electric discharge pulse within narrow dielectric cavities of submillimeter dimensions. The gas within the cavity is taken to be air at atmospheric pressure. The development of an avalanche through primary and secondary ionization processes, is followed till extinction. Secondary processes including photo-emission and ion-emission from the cathode are considered. The model is seen to successfully simulate the evolution of the discharge and yield useful information about the build-up of space charge within the gaseous channel, consequent modification of the electric field, ionic and electronic currents, and charge accumulation on the electrodes at end of discharge pulse. A significant contribution of this work is that the simulated discharge within the cavity is coupled through the electrodes, with an external circuit comprising of a voltage source. The effect of different electrode configurations viz. metallic-metallic, dielectric-metallic and dielectric-dielectric, as might occur at pd initiation sites, is studied. This is seen to significantly affect many of the parameters studied, especially the charge deposition at discharge extinction. The magnitude of the discharge pulse and its rise-time are also seen to be affected. The phase-space scatter plots for electrons, positive and negative ions are obtained, which help to understand the manner in which the discharge progresses over time.
Depression predicts cognitive disorders in older primary care patients.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether depression is independently associated with increased risk of incident dementia or cognitive disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) in an older primary care population. METHOD This was a prospective 3-year cohort study of 470 patients aged >or= 65 years without baseline cognitive disorders who were recruited from primary care offices. Annual assessments completed from March 2003 through December 2005 included the use of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV to diagnose major depressive disorder (MDD) and minor depression (MinD) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) for depressive symptom severity. The Mini-Mental State Exam, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale-initiation/perseveration subscale, and the Trail Making Tests A and B informed diagnoses of dementia and cognitive disorder NOS. RESULTS 36 subjects, representing a cumulative incidence of 13%, developed dementia or cognitive disorder NOS over 3 years. Using Cox proportional hazard survival models to calculate the risk ratio of depression for development of cognitive disorders, MDD and MinD (HR = 3.68; 95% CI, 2.1-6.42 and HR = 1.84; 95% CI, 1.05-3.21, respectively) and HDRS scores (HR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12) predicted new onset dementia or cognitive disorder NOS, when covarying age, gender, and education. CONCLUSIONS Depressive disorders pose increased risk of incident dementia or cognitive disorder NOS in older primary care patients. Clinicians treating depressed older adults should monitor for development of cognitive disorders.
Design and Analysis of Power Supplies for the First 100-T Nondestructive Magnet at the WHMFC

High magnetic field is one of the most significant tools for scientific experiments. To obtain higher magnetic field, a nondestructive magnet aimed at generating 100 T, which achieves the best utilization of the power supplies at the Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, is designed. This magnet will make up of three coils nested coaxially. The inner coil and the middle coil will be energized by two independent capacitor banks, respectively, and the outer coil will be powered using the combined power supply of battery bank and power converter modules energized by a 100-MVA/185-MJ generator. During operation of magnet and power supplies, a proper procedure is needed to ensure the achievement of 100 T and system safety. A new protection system is needed to avoid damage to the power supplies. The configuration of the power supplies for the first 100-T nondestructive magnet and control strategy and protection system for the power supplies are described in this paper. Digital simulation results of the power supplies are present also.
Conditional estimation of local pooled dispersion parameter in small-sample RNA-Seq data improves differential expression test

High throughput sequencing technology in transcriptomics studies contribute to the understanding of gene regulation mechanism and its cellular function, but also increases a need for accurate statistical methods to assess quantitative differences between experiments. Many methods have been developed to account for the specifics of count data: non-normality, a dependence of the variance on the mean, and small sample size. Among them, the small number of samples in typical experiments is still a challenge. Here we present a method for differential analysis of count data, using conditional estimation of local pooled dispersion parameters. A comprehensive evaluation of our proposed method in the aspect of differential gene expression analysis using both simulated and real data sets shows that the proposed method is more powerful than other existing methods while controlling the false discovery rates. By introducing conditional estimation of local pooled dispersion parameters, we successfully overcome the limitation of small power and enable a powerful quantitative analysis focused on differential expression test with the small number of samples.
High frequency volume coils for clinical NMR imaging and spectroscopy

A tuned transmission line resonator has been developed in theory and in practical design for the clinical NMR volume coil application at 4.1 tesla. The distributed circuit transmission line resonator was designed for high frequency, large conductive volume applications where conventional lumped element coil designs perform less efficiently. The resonator design has made use of a resonant coaxial cavity, which could be variably tuned to the Larmor frequency of interest by tunable transmission line elements. Large head‐ and body‐sized volumes, high efficiencies, and broad tuning ranges have been shown to be characteristic of the transmission line resonator to frequencies of 500 MHz. The B1 homogeneity of the resonator has been demonstrated to be a function of the electromagnetic properties of the load itself. By numerically solving Maxwell's: equations for the fully time‐dependent B1 field, coil homogeneity was predicted with finite‐element models of anatomic structure, and inhomogeneities corrected for. A how‐to exposition of coil design and construction has been included. Simple methods of quadrature driving and double tuning the transmission line resonator have also been presented. Human head images obtained with a tuned transmission line resonator at 175 MHz have clearly demonstrated uncompromised high field advantages of signal‐to‐noise and spatial resolution.