Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a kinetic assay for band 5b tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity in serum.

BACKGROUND Band 5 tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TrACP; EC 3. 1.3.2) consists of two isoenzymes, bands 5a and 5b, of which band 5b TrACP is considered to be derived from bone. However, no kinetic method for the specific measurement of band 5b TrACP in serum is available. Our aim was to develop a kinetic assay method for the specific measurement of band 5b TrACP in serum. METHODS Band 5b TrACP was measured kinetically in serum as tartrate-resistant fluoride-sensitive heparin-resistant ACP with 2, 6-dichloro-4-acetylphenyl phosphate as substrate at pH 6.6. RESULTS Heparin inhibited band 5a TrACP but had no effect on band 5b TrACP in serum or in bone extract. The presence of EDTA or ascorbic acid had no effect, but dithiothreitol inhibited enzyme activity. The within-run (n = 20) and between-run (n = 20) CVs of band 5b TrACP activity were 3.3-5.8% and 5.0-7.3%, respectively. The mean +/- SD values of band 5b TrACP activity in males (n = 25) and females (n = 57) 20-29 years of age by this method were 8.0 +/- 2.2 U/L and 6.4 +/- 1.8 U/L, respectively. The band 5b TrACP value was significantly higher in females >50 years of age compared with the younger subjects (20-29 years). The highest band 5b TrACP values were among children younger than 15 years. CONCLUSIONS This kinetic assay is a simple and specific method for the measurement of band 5b TrACP in serum samples and is useful in the evaluation of bone turnover activity.
Using Packet Size Distribution to Identify P2P-TV Traffic

We propose an approach to accurately identify the traffic generaed by P2P-TV applications. This approach only relies on accounting packet size distribution (PSD) of the P2P-TV application during small time-windows. The rationale is that the packet size distributions of P2P-TV applications are different from each other. Based on the statistic, we make use of Support Vector Machines on a large set of P2P-TV test-bed traces. Experiment results show that our approach is effective and reliable to identify P2P-TV traffic.
Constructions of Snake-in-the-Box Codes for Rank Modulation

Snake-in-the-box code is a Gray code, which is capable of detecting a single error. Gray codes are important in the context of the rank modulation scheme, which was suggested recently for representing information in flash memories. For a Gray code in this scheme, the codewords are permutations, two consecutive codewords are obtained using the push-to-the-top operation, and distance measure is defined on permutations. In this paper, the Kendall's T-metric is used as the distance measure. We present a general method for constructing such Gray codes. We apply the method recursively to obtain a snake of length M<sub>2n+1</sub> = ((2n + 1)(2n) - 1)M<sub>2n-1</sub> for permutations of S<sub>2n+1</sub>, from a snake of length M<sub>2n-1</sub> for permutations of S<sub>2n-1</sub>. Thus, we have lim;n→∞ M<sub>2n+1</sub>/S<sub>2n+1</sub> ≈0.4338, improving on the previous known ratio of lim;n→∞ 1/√(πn). Using the general method, we also present a direct construction. This direct construction is based on necklaces and it might yield snakes of length (2n + 1)! /2-2n + 1 for permutations of S<sub>2n+1</sub>. The direct construction was applied successfully for S<sub>7</sub> and S<sub>9</sub>, and hence lim;n→∞ M<sub>2n+1</sub>/S<sub>2n+1</sub> ≈0.4743.
The relationship between distance to hospital and patient mortality in emergencies: an observational study

Objectives: Reconfiguration of emergency services could lead to patients with life-threatening conditions travelling longer distances to hospital. Concerns have been raised that this could increase the risk of death. We aimed to determine whether distance to hospital was associated with mortality in patients with life-threatening emergencies. Methods: We undertook an observational cohort study of 10 315 cases transported with a potentially life-threatening condition (excluding cardiac arrests) by four English ambulance services to associated acute hospitals, to determine whether distance to hospital was associated with mortality, after adjustment for age, sex, clinical category and illness severity. Results: Straight-line ambulance journey distances ranged from 0 to 58 km with a median of 5 km, and 644 patients died (6.2%). Increased distance was associated with increased risk of death (odds ratio 1.02 per kilometre; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.03; p<0.001). This association was not changed by adjustment for confounding by age, sex, clinical category or illness severity. Patients with respiratory emergencies showed the greatest association between distance and mortality. Conclusion: Increased journey distance to hospital appears to be associated with increased risk of mortality. Our data suggest that a 10-km increase in straight-line distance is associated with around a 1% absolute increase in mortality.
A stochastic model for leukocyte random motility and chemotaxis based on receptor binding fluctuations

Two central features of polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemosensory movement behavior demand fundamental theoretical understanding. In uniform concentrations of chemoattractant, these cells exhibit a persistent random walk, with a characteristic "persistence time" between significant changes in direction. In chemoattractant concentration gradients, they demonstrate a biased random walk, with an "orientation bias" characterizing the fraction of cells moving up the gradient. A coherent picture of cell movement responses to chemoattractant requires that both the persistence time and the orientation bias be explained within a unifying framework. In this paper, we offer the possibility that "noise" in the cellular signal perception/response mechanism can simultaneously account for these two key phenomena. In particular, we develop a stochastic mathematical model for cell locomotion based on kinetic fluctuations in chemoattractant/receptor binding. This model can simulate cell paths similar to those observed experimentally, under conditions of uniform chemoattractant concentrations as well as chemoattractant concentration gradients. Furthermore, this model can quantitatively predict both cell persistence time and dependence of orientation bias on gradient size. Thus, the concept of signal "noise" can quantitatively unify the major characteristics of leukocyte random motility and chemotaxis. The same level of noise large enough to account for the observed frequency of turning in uniform environments is simultaneously small enough to allow for the observed degree of directional bias in gradients.
Fus1p Interacts With Components of the Hog1p Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase and Cdc42p Morphogenesis Signaling Pathways to Control Cell Fusion During Yeast Mating

Cell fusion in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a temporally and spatially regulated process that involves degradation of the septum, which is composed of cell wall material, and occurs between conjugating cells within a prezygote, followed by plasma membrane fusion. The plasma membrane protein Fus1p is known to be required for septum degradation during cell fusion, yet its role at the molecular level is not understood. We identified Sho1p, an osmosensor for the HOG MAPK pathway, as a binding partner for Fus1 in a two-hybrid screen. The Sho1p-Fus1p interaction occurs directly and is mediated through the Sho1p-SH3 domain and a proline-rich peptide ligand on the Fus1p COOH-terminal cytoplasmic region. The cell fusion defect associated with fus1Δ mutants is suppressed by a sho1Δ deletion allele, suggesting that Fus1p negatively regulates Sho1p signaling to ensure efficient cell fusion. A two-hybrid matrix containing fusion proteins and pheromone response pathway signaling molecules reveals that Fus1p may participate in a complex network of interactions. In particular, the Fus1p cytoplasmic domain interacts with Chs5p, a protein required for secretion of specialized Chs3p-containing vesicles during bud development, and chs5Δ mutants were defective in cell surface localization of Fus1p. The Fus1p cytoplasmic domain also interacts with the activated GTP-bound form of Cdc42p and the Fus1p-SH3 domain interacts with Bni1p, a yeast formin that participates in cell fusion and controls the assembly of actin cables to polarize secretion in response to Cdc42p signaling. Taken together, our results suggest that Fus1p acts as a scaffold for the assembly of a cell surface complex involved in polarized secretion of septum-degrading enzymes and inhibition of HOG pathway signaling to promote cell fusion.
The Fusion-Fission Hybrid Reactor for Energy Production: A Practical Path to Fusion Application

The fusion-fission hybrid system has the potential attractiveness of good safety performances and plenty of fuel compared to the fission reactor system and also easing the requirement of fusion plasma technology. It is a practical path to the early fusion application for energy production. In this paper, a fusion-driven subcritical reactor for energy multiplier, named FDS-EM, is proposed. It can generate about an electricity power of ~1.2 GW with self-sustaining tritium cycle. The tokamak can be designed based on relatively easy-achieved plasma parameters extrapolated from the operation of the EAST tokamak, and the subcritical blanket can be designed based on the well-developed technology of pressurized water reactor. The conceptual design of FDS-EM, which consists of fusion plasma core parameters design and optimization, fission blanket and fuel cycle, and reference blanket module design, has been presented. And the preliminary performance analyses covering neutronics, thermal-hydraulics and thermo-mechanics have been carried out.
Mutual Exclusivity: Communicative Success Despite Conceptual Divergence

Traditional explanatory accounts of the evolution of language frequently appeal to a “conventional neo-Darwinian process” (Pinker & Bloom 1990: 707), assuming that humans have evolved an innate, genetically-encoded language acquisition device, which specifies a formal coding of Universal Grammar (Chomsky 1965), and which evolved incrementally through a series of steps via natural selection (Jackendoff 2002). An alternative approach focuses instead on the evolution of linguistic structures themselves, as utterances used and understood by speakers and hearers (Christiansen 1994; Croft 2000). Under the latter approach, the continual cycle of expressing and re-interpreting these utterances (Hurford 2002) drives the cultural evolution of language. Other things being equal, languages which can be readily interpreted and expressed through this cycle are more likely to persist than those which cannot. An explanation of the evolution of syntactic structure remains the holy grail of evolutionary linguists by researchers in both these traditions, because syntax has been seen as the defining characteristic which separates human language from animal communication systems, and in recent years, computational simulations have been used extensively to shed light on this issue. Kirby (2002), for example, shows that structured signals can develop from unstructured signals through the analysis of signal-meaning pairs and the subsequent generalization of rules based on the analysis; similar accounts are presented by Batali (2002), whose agents combine and modify phrases based on exemplars of signal-meaning mappings which they receive, and by Brighton (2002), who shows how the poverty of the stimulus is an important factor in the emergence of compositional syntax. Despite these exciting findings, however, there are some problematic assumptions in models such as these. In particular, the emergence of syntactic structure in the signal space is a direct result of the signals’ explicit association with pre-defined meanings (Nehaniv 2000), and of the explicit transfer of meaning in communication (Smith 2001). Furthermore, the models often rely on reinforcement learning to guide the learners, although error signals are widely rejected in language acquisition (Bloom 2000). I have, however, developed a model of meaning creation and communication which addresses these problems and have shown that communication can succeed through the inference of meaning (Smith 2001, 2003a, 2003b). Crucially, inferential communication allows the development of communication between individuals who do not necessarily share exactly the same internal representations of meaning. This
Reference values for lung function: past, present and future

Reliable interpretation of pulmonary function results relies on the availability of appropriate reference data to help distinguish between health and disease and to assess the severity and nature of any functional impairment. The overwhelming number of published reference equations, with at least 15 published for spirometry alone in the past 3 yrs, complicates the selection of an appropriate reference. The use of inappropriate reference equations and misinterpretation, even when potentially appropriate equations are used, can lead to serious errors in both under and over diagnosis, with its associated burden in terms of financial and human costs. Further misdiagnosis occurs when fixed cut-offs, such as 80% predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) or 0.70 FEV1/forced vital capacity, are used; particularly in young children and elderly adults. While per cent predicted has historically been used to interpret lung function results, z-scores are more appropriate as they take into account the predicted value, as well as the between-subject variability of measurements. We aim to highlight some of the main issues in selecting and using reference equations and discuss how recent developments may improve interpretation of pulmonary function results.
Voice activity detection using Laplacian model and UMP test

This paper presents a new voice activity detection (VAD) method using the Laplacian distribution and a uniformly most powerful (UMP) test. The UMP test is employed to derive the new decision rule based on likelihood ratio test (LRT). The proposed method provide the decision rule by comparing the sum of magnitude of real and imaginary parts of the noisy spectral component to the adaptive threshold estimated from the noise statistics. Experimental results show that the proposed VAD algorithm based on the Laplacian and the UMP test outperforms the conventional scheme at a low SNR.
Design of a dual band circular polarized antenna for ZigBee, WLAN and DSRC applications

In this paper, a CPW-fed dual band antenna for Circular Polarization (CP) is proposed and fabricated. CP is achieved using an 'L' shaped radiating patch and a one corner truncated slot in the ground plane. Dual band CP is achieved by connecting one end of the 'L' shaped patch to the ground plane and adding a stub to the ground plane. The proposed antenna has impedance bandwidths (S11 <;-10 dB) of 34% (2.2-3.1 GHz) and 42% (4.6-7.1 GHz), and Axial Ratio Bandwidth (ARBW) of 34% (2.2-3.1 GHz) and 26% (5-6.5 GHz). The antenna is Right Handed Circularly Polarized (RHCP) in both the bands. A parametric study is also presented for the better understanding. The measured results show a good agreement with the simulated results.
ON THE INFERENCE OF THERMAL INVERSIONS IN HOT JUPITER ATMOSPHERES

Several studies in the recent past have inferred the existence of thermal inversions in some transiting hot Jupiter atmospheres. Given the limited data available, the inference of a thermal inversion depends critically on the chemical composition assumed for the atmosphere. In this study, we explore the degeneracies between thermal inversions and molecular abundances in four highly irradiated hot Jupiter atmospheres, dayside observations of which were previously reported to be consistent with thermal inversions based on Spitzer photometry. The four systems are HD 209458b, HAT-P-7b, TrES-4, and TrES-2. We model the exoplanet atmospheres using a one-dimensional line-by-line radiative transfer code with parameterized abundances and temperature structure, and with constraints of energy balance and hydrostatic equilibrium. For each system, we explore the model parameter space with ∼106 models using a Markov chain Monte Carlo routine. Our results primarily suggest that a thorough exploration of the model parameter space is necessary to identify thermal inversions in hot Jupiter atmospheres. We find that existing observations of TrES-4 and TrES-2 can both be fit very precisely with models with and without thermal inversions, and with a wide range in chemical composition. On the other hand, observations of HD 209458b and HAT-P-7b are better fit with thermal inversions than without, as has been reported previously. Physically plausible non-inversion models of HD 209458b and HAT-P-7b fit the data only at the 1. 7σ observational errors; better fits require substantial enhancement of methane and depletion of CO, which seems implausible in the very hot atmospheres considered here. Second, in the sample under consideration here, we do not see a correlation between irradiation levels and thermal inversions, given current data. Before JWST becomes available, near-IR observations from the ground and with the Hubble Space Telescope, along with existing Spitzer observations, can potentially resolve thermal inversions in some systems. Observations with only two channels of Warm Spitzer photometry and good signal-to-noise ratio can likely identify or rule out thermal inversions if the difference between the fluxes in the 3.6 and 4.5 μm channels is very high.
Natural killer cell-based therapies

Allotransplantation of natural killer (NK) cells has been shown to be a key factor in the control and cure of at least some hematologic diseases, such as acute myeloid leukemia or pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia. These results support the idea that stimulation of NK cells could be an important therapeutic tool in many diseases, and several such approaches are now in clinical trials, sometimes with conflicting results. In parallel, recent advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing NK-cell maturation and activity show that NK-cell effector functions are controlled by complex mechanisms that must be taken into account for optimal design of therapeutic protocols. We review here innovative protocols based on allotransplantation, use of NK-cell therapies, and use of newly available drug candidates targeting NK-cell receptors, in the light of fundamental new data on NK-cell biology.
Circulating miRNAs in myasthenia gravis: miR-150-5p as a new potential biomarker

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disorder where autoantibodies target the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR+) in about 85% of cases, in which the thymus is considered to play a pathogenic role. As there are no reliable biomarkers to monitor disease status in MG, we analyzed circulating miRNAs in sera of MG patients to find disease‐specific miRNAs.
The Impact of Revision 7 on the Technical Efficiency of Florida's Circuit Courts

In 1998 Florida voters approved Article V, Revision 7, which changed the state circuit courts from county/state funding to nearly full state funding during the 2004/05 fiscal year. Although increased efficiency was a goal of Revision 7, no published studies exist on the impacts of Revision 7 on court efficiency. Resource dependency and institutional theory, two open-natural system frameworks, are used to predict whether Florida's circuit courts have become more efficient over the policy span of Revision 7 (1993–2008). The results reveal that only 3 of 300 Florida circuits are technically efficient; the mean efficiency score is . 76. Analysis of variance determined Florida circuits became significantly less efficient over time. Small- and medium-sized circuits lost efficiency, large circuits showed no change, and analysis of covariance modeling revealed a significant interaction effect between circuit size and the Revision 7 period.
The Place of Variation in Phonological Theory

Over the past 15 years, the study of variation has become increasingly important in phonology. As recently as 1995, the previous edition of this Handbook did not have a chapter on variation. In fact, the term “variation” does not even appear in its subject index. Today, any volume that attempts to give an overview of the current status of the field of theoretical phonology cannot go without a chapter dedicated to variation. In this chapter, we review how the fortunes of variation have changed over the past fifteen years, and discuss the some of the issues that arise in making a place for it in phonological theory.
Self-regulated learning: Teacher training and student’s education in the school context

Rev. educ. PUC-Camp. , Campinas, 23(3):329-336, set. /dez. , 2018 http://dx.doi. org/10.24220/2318-0870v23n3a4326 1 Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Centro de Ciências Humanas e Sociais Aplicadas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação. R. Professor Doutor Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini, 1516, Parque Rural Fazenda Santa Cândida, 13087-571, Campinas, SP, Brasil. Correspondência para/ Correspondence to: J.C. B. TORTELLA. E-mail: <jussaratortella@puc-campinas.edu. br>. 2 Universidade do Minho, Escola de Psicologia, Departamento de Psicologia Aplicada. Braga, Portugal. 3 Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação, Departamento de Psicologia Educacional. Campinas, SP, Brasil.
Transference and Attachment: How Do Attachment Patterns Get Carried Forward From One Relationship to the Next?

This research investigated how working models of attachment are carried forward fromone relationship to the next. A two-part study was conducted in which participants learned about two potential dating partners: one that was constructed to resemble a romantic partner from their past and one that resembled a partner from another participant's past. Results showed that people applied their attachment representations of past partners to both targets but did so to a greater degree when the target resembled a past partner. People also tended to feel more anxious and less avoidant toward the target that resembled their past partner. Overall, the findings were consistent with the hypothesis that working models of attachment are transferred in both general and selective ways in new relationships.
Characterization and Edge Sign Prediction in Signed Networks

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What's in a word: the use, misuse, and abuse of the word “persistence” in Chlamydia biology

The word persistence was used by Chlamydia researchers almost as soon as Chlamydia research was born to reflect the propensity of chlamydiae to cause inapparent infection in their hosts, from birds to humans. More recently, the term persistence has been used, misused, and sometimes abused amidst in vitro and in vivo studies that aim to mimick the ability of chlamydiae to emerge from the presumed inapparent state into clinically detectable infection and disease. Here, I have attempted to provide a global perspective on the state of research on chlamydial persistence, revisiting old observations that may warrant a new look, critically evaluating more recent observations and their shortcomings, and including recent developments that may help redefine chlamydiae as pathogens—or not—of both animals and humans.