Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of a Novel Streptokinase Produced by Streptococcus equisimilis of Non-Human Origin

Summary Streptokinases are proteins with plasminogen activator activity produced by certain hemolytic streptococci. We previously identified equine streptococcal isolates which produced streptokinases (ESKs) that bound both human and equine plasminogen but only readily activated equine plasminogen (14). This property was exploited to purify a representative ESK produced by Streptococcus equisimilis strain 87-542-W. Affinity chromatography with human plasminogen resulted in the isolation of a M~49,000 molecule with two isoforms. This ESK was subsequently compared to well characterized streptokinases (HSKs) that efficiently activate human plasminogen. Differences in streptokinases were identified in the highly conserved amino-terminal amino acid sequence, peptide maps, and antigenic properties, and these differences were supported by DNA hybridization studies. These results indicate that the family of proteins identified as streptokinases has much greater diversity than previously appreciated.
Using SAS/GRAPH ® to Create Visualizations That Also Support Tactile and Auditory Interaction

Concepts, ideas, and analyses are commonly presented as graphics that are optimized for visual consumption. Does that mean blind students and professionals are out of luck? Not anymore. This presentation demonstrates best practices for multimodal visualizations for blind users of the iPad and other touchscreen mobile devices. Multimodal visualizations allow blind users to interactively explore visualizations through touch, discover details through sound, and comprehend the essence of the visualizations without vision. The presentation explores how to use SAS/GRAPH ® to create data visualizations that are optimized for access by blind users. For brevity, this paper will focus on scatter plots. However, the live presentation will demonstrate best practices for a variety of common charts, plots, and maps. We will demonstrate how to create multimodal visualizations using SAS macros that encapsulate the best practices. Lastly, we will explore how an auditory channel can improve the usability of visualizations for sighted users.
Exercise-mode-related changes in task-switching performance in the elderly

The objective of the current study was to explore the relationships between exercise modes and executive functions in the elderly. Twenty-one elderly individuals in the open-skill group, 22 in the closed-skill group, and 21 in the sedentary-behavior (control) group were recruited in the current study, and performed a task-switching paradigm during which the switches occurred unpredictably and infrequently, while the behavioral and electrophysiological performances were assessed simultaneously. The results indicated that although there were no group differences in accuracy rates, the two exercise groups exhibited shorter reaction times (RTs), and larger P2 and P3 amplitudes across all conditions compared to the control group. In addition, the exercise-mode differences revealed a relatively smaller specific cost, and faster motor RTs and larger P3 amplitudes, in the switch condition for the open-skill group in comparison with the closed-skill and control groups. These findings suggest that regularly participating in physical exercise can enhance behavioral and electrophysiological performance with regard to executive control in the elderly, and provide further evidence for the beneficial effects of open-skill exercise on the task-switching paradigm.
Single Channel Speech and Background Segregation Through Harmonic-Temporal Clustering

The design of effective algorithms for single-channel analysis of complex and varied acoustical scenes is a very important and challenging problem. We present here the application of the recently introduced Harmonic-Temporal Clustering (HTC) framework to single channel speech enhancement, background retrieval and speaker separation. HTC processing relies on a precise parametric description of the voiced parts of speech derived from the power spectrum. We explain the positioning of the algorithm inside the Computational Acoustic Scene Analysis (CASA) area, describe the theoretical background of the method, show through preliminary experiments its basic feasibility, and discuss potential improvements.
Notes on a rhetoric of lamentation

Representative descriptive, critical, analytical and narrative prose materials on a wide range of topics are informally sampled in order to provide a “balanced” rhetorical statement of dyslogistic impressions of recent industrial society, with emphasis upon the American. The brief and highly experimental history of mass industrial life‐ways, capitalist and socialist, has its many defenders. Perhaps Americans in particular have shown the way in modes of living and being which have blossomed to the fullest extent only in the past few generations. The rich rewards have been endlessly celebrated. The costs have tended to be minimized, in a civilization which generally disapproves of the purely intellectual cast of mind, and especially of the adversarial mentality. This article makes the attempt to “ground” a broad rhetoric of criticism of industrial life‐ways as currently conceived, without at the same time arguing at length for its uncritical adoption. Some of the symbolic dynamics of these statements are ex.
Reflections on “The Evolution of Educational Leadership Programs”

M artha McCarthy has created a comprehensive picture of both the historical development and the current status of educational leadership preparation programs in the United States. The intention of this review is to provide a brief summary of the chapter and a focused discussion of some important issues that she has brought to our attention. It will also explore why relatively little change has resulted despite the fact that pressure to reform educational leadership programs has been increasing, as well as what may be required to make significant and positive progress toward program reform.
EFFECT OF CLINICAL STATE AND CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS ON CHARACTERISTICS OF PLASMA CORTISOL SECRETION IN NEONATES USING DECONVOLUTION ANALYSIS. † 1142

“Non-stressed” NICU neonates have been shown to secrete cortisol (F) in discrete pulses at approx. 80 min intervals (Metzger JCEM 1993). Routine NICU clinical care often involves interventions and procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of clinical state and interventions on plasma cortisol secretion in neonates. Blood samples for plasma F determination were taken via indwelling arterial lines at 15 min. intervals for six hours. Neonates with g.a. 25-40 wk were studied in the first 7 postnatal days. No infant had been exposed to antenatal steroid 5 (n = 10) had a greater amplitude of F secretion than those with a SNAP≤ 5 (n=11) [11.8 (5.8 - 22.5) vs 4.7 (3.5 - 10.2) nmol/L.min; P = 0.014] but did not differ with respect to other deconvolution parameters. Compared with extubated neonates (n=11) those who were intubated/ventilated (n = 10) had a greater mass of F secreted per burst and also a greater F production rate [214 (197 - 275) vs 108 (94 - 121) nmol/L; P = 0.003; and 981 (900 - 1100) vs 484 (299 - 756) nmol/L/6h; P = 0.002]. Clinical interventions, as part of necessary care, during the 6 hr study period included endotracheal reintubation, ET suction, intravenous insertion, nasogastric tube insertion and chest physiotherapy. The group with clinical interventions (n = 11) did not differ from those without interventions (n=10) for any deconvolution parameter. These data provide new information about the effect of clinical state and interventions on pulsatile cortisol secretion in neonates. The pulsatile nature of cortisol secretion must be taken into consideration when measuring plasma cortisol as a marker of stress, even in premature neonates.
Control of heterogeneous groups of LPV systems interconnected through directed and switching topologies

A technique to synthesize distributed linear parameter-varying (LPV) controllers for the control of heterogeneous LPV systems interconnected through switching directed interaction topologies is presented. Groups of subsystems are defined with undirected interaction within, but directed interconnections between each other. This allows to construct a virtual symmetric interconnection matrix representation of the graph topology. The symmetry guarantees the existence of a diagonalizing transformation, which renders both analysis and synthesis problems particularly simple. Structural constraints on multipliers reduce the complexity of the resulting coupled matrix inequalities to be of the order of a single subsystem times the number of groups. The problem can be solved by modified linear fractional transformation (LFT)-based LPV gain-scheduling synthesis methods.
Centroidal Area-Constrained Partitioning for Robotic Networks

We consider the problem of optimal coverage with area-constraints in a mobile multi-agent system. For a planar environment with an associated density function, this problem is equivalent to dividing the environment into optimal subregions such that each agent is responsible for the coverage of its own region. In this paper, we design a continuous-time distributed policy which allows a team of agents to achieve a convex area-constrained partition of a convex workspace. Our work is related to the classic Lloyd algorithm, and makes use of generalized Voronoi diagrams. We also discuss practical implementation for real mobile networks. Simulation methods are presented and discussed.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids and Marine Toxins - The Common and the Different

Marine microorganisms harbor a multitude of secondary metabolites. Among these are toxins of different chemical classes as well as the UV-protective mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). The latter form a group of water-soluble, low molecular-weight (generally < 400) compounds composed of either an aminocyclohexenone or an aminocyclohexenimine ring, carrying amino acid or amino alcohol substituents. So far there has been no report of toxicity in MAAs but nevertheless there are some features they have in common with marine toxins. Among the organisms producing MAAs are cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates and diatoms that also synthesize toxins. As in cyclic peptide toxins found in cyanobacteria, amino acids are the main building blocks of MAAs. Both, MAAs and some marine toxins are transferred to other organisms e.g. via the food chains, and chemical modifications can take place in secondary consumers. In contrast to algal toxins, the physiological role of MAAs is clearly the protection from harmful UV radiation by physical screening. However, other roles, e.g. as osmolytes and antioxidants, are also considered. In this paper the common characteristics of MAAs and marine toxins are discussed as well as the differences.
The Anatomy of Envy: A Study in Symbolic Behavior [and Comments and Reply]

Envy is a pan-human phenomenon, universally feared, at least subconsciously, as a particularly dangerous emotion, since it implies hostility and aggression capable of destroying individuals and even societies. Especially in Western society, man has rather successfully repressed his true feelings about envy, which he is taught is the most shameful and reprehensible of all emotions. But even while denying it, man in all cultures has found devices, most but not all of which are symbolic, to cope with his fear of the consequences of envy. In this paper I distinguish between envy and jealousy (the terms are badly confused in English), note the objects that most frequently cause envy (food, children, and health), and analyze envy relationships between both conceptual equals and conceptual nonequals (concluding that one does not "envy down"). I then note the ways in which envy is expressed, including the symbolic "compliment," much feared in many societies because it is recognized as an expression of envy. Particularly striking is the fact that in those situations in which the envy of others is feared, culture dictates a strategy of evasive behavior based on a specific sequence of preferred choices. That is, when an individual fears envy he first attempts to conceal his good fortune; when this is not practical, he falls back on denial that there is reason to envy him; when this is not adequate, he symbolically shares, and only as a last resort does he truly share. This sequence is illustrated with a detailed comparative analysis of food-envy behavior, including tipping, which is explained as a symbolic device to buy off the envy of the waiter. Cultural forms used by an individual to cope with the fear that he is suspected of envy are then noted, as are those used by a person who fears to acknowledge his own envy. Finally, institutional devices to reduce envy are discussed briefly. The paper stresses the ways in which cultural forms have been developed to aid man in coping with psychological problems.
An explanatory framework for adaptive personality differences

We develop a conceptual framework for the understanding of animal personalities in terms of adaptive evolution. We focus on two basic questions. First, why do behavioural types exhibit limited behavioural plasticity, that is, behavioural correlations both across contexts and over time? Second, how can multiple behavioural types coexist within a single population? We emphasize differences in ‘state’ among individuals in combination with state-dependent behaviour. Some states are inherently stable and individual differences in such states can explain stable differences in suites of behaviour if it is adaptive to make behaviour in various contexts dependent on such states. Behavioural stability and cross-context correlations in behaviour are more difficult to explain if individual states are potentially more variable. In such cases stable personalities can result from state-dependent behaviour if state and behaviour mutually reinforce each other by feedback mechanisms. We discuss various evolutionary mechanisms for the maintenance of variation (in states and/or behaviour), including frequency-dependent selection, spatial variation with incomplete matching between habitat and phenotype, bet-hedging in a temporally fluctuating environment, and non-equilibrium dynamics. Although state differences are important, we also discuss how social conventions and social signalling can give rise to adaptive personality differences in the absence of state differences.
Channel decoding of systematically encoded unknown redundant sources

This paper describes the channel decoding of systematically encoded unknown redundant sources. The redundancy of the data is known at the decoder and the channel decoder incorporates the statistics of the data to enhance the performance. The practical decoders are designed which takes the advantage of the source redundancy of systematically encoded for transmission over a discrete memoryless channel (DMC). The performance is achieved by operating discrete universal denoiser (DUDE) and the experiments involving Reed-Solomon codes show that DUDE-enhanced decoding is very effective at high rates.
Face Detection in Color Images using Skin Segmentation

Face detection which is a challenging problem in computer vision, can be used as a major step in face recognition. The challenges of face detection in color images include illumination differences, various cameras characteristics, different ethnicities, and other distinctions. In order to detect faces in color images, skin detection can be applied to the image. Numerous methods have been utilized for human skin color detection, including Gaussian model, rule-based methods, and artificial neural networks. In this paper, we present a novel neural network-based technique for skin detection, introducing a skin segmentation process for finding the faces in color
Maternal and fetal haemodynamic effects of spinal and extradural anaesthesia for elective caesarean section.

Serial haemodynamic investigations were performed in 32 women who were allocated randomly to receive either spinal or extradural anaesthesia for elective Caesarean section. Cardiac output was measured by Doppler and cross-sectional echocardiography at the aortic valve. Doppler flow velocity waveforms were recorded also from the umbilical artery. Preloading with Ringer lactate solution 1 litre increased cardiac output in both groups. After injection of bupivacaine, cardiac output remained increased in the extradural group, but decreased in the spinal group. This was associated with an increase in umbilical artery pulsatility index in the spinal group. Umbilical artery pH was less in the spinal group (7.22 vs 7.27), although no neonate was depressed at birth. The maximum percentage change in cardiac output and umbilical artery pulsatility index correlated with umbilical artery pH (r = 0.54, r = 0.72, respec-tively). There was no significant correlation with change in arterial pressure.
Need for Cognition and the Correspondence Bias

Two studies examined the relationship between need for cognition and the correspondence bias. In Experiment 1, high and low need for cognition subjects read a speech on abortion that the target was constrained to write and then rated the target's true attitude on this issue. A correspondence bias was found only in the ratings of the low need for cognition subjects. Experiment 2 replicated the results of Experiment 1 and also found that cognitive busyness tended to increase the correspondence bias for all subjects. It was concluded that need for cognition moderates the correspondence bias and that high need for cognition subjects are less prone toward this bias because they correct more adequately for situational constraints than do low need for cognition subjects.
Sampling-based collision avoidance for commercial airliners with intruder aircraft and terrain

This paper presents a robust, sampling-based path-planning algorithm for commercial airliners that simultaneously performs collision avoidance both with intruder aircraft and terrain. The current resolution systems implemented on commercial airliners are effective and efficient, but have certain limitations; the algorithm proposed in this paper attempts to rectify some of these. Recent advances in automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) and GPS technology provides the information required to resolve complex conflict scenarios that simultaneously involve multiple intruder aircraft and terrain. The proposed algorithm applies an incremental sampling-based technique to determine a safe path quickly and reliably. As the number of samples increases, the algorithm strives towards an optimal solution; this results in a safe, near-optimal path that avoids the conflict region. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is able to successfully resolve various conflict scenarios, including the generic two aircraft scenario, terrain only scenario and a two aircraft with terrain scenario. A statistical analysis of the simulation results shows that the algorithm finds near-optimal paths quickly and reliably.
Flexible GaN LED on a polyimide substrate for display applications

The flexible GaN-based light emitting diode (LED) has been fabricated on a plastic substrate for flexible display applications. The epitaxial structures of the GaN LED arrays are transferred onto a flexible substrate using standard soft lithography technology and connected to a source-meter by metal lines. To verify the mechanically and optically stable characteristics of the GaN LEDs on the flexible substrates, the electrical properties are characterized during 2000 bending cycles at various bending radius. A white light-emitting phosphor-coated GaN LED shows its potential as a next-generation flexible light source.
Risk-Management and the Fortified Aid Compound: Everyday Life in Post-Interventionary Society

Abstract The politicisation of aid has made helping others increasingly dangerous. The fortified aid compound is now ubiquitous throughout the global borderland. It has become the signature architecture, for example, of the UN integrated mission. In examining these developments, the article first looks at the potential for UN field-security training to normalise risk-aversion and the necessity, even desirability, of defensive living. Using the example of Sudan, the wider implications of aid bunkering, including its overlaps with such global trends as urban splintering and the proliferation of gated-communities are also examined. The fortified aid compound is symptomatic of the deepening crisis within the development-security nexus.
A Short-Range Signal Restricts Cell Movement between Telencephalic Proliferative Zones

During telencephalic development, a boundary develops that restricts cell movement between the dorsal cortical and basal striatal proliferative zones. In this study, the appearance of this boundary and the mechanism by which cell movement is restricted were examined through a number of approaches. The general pattern of neuronal dispersion was examined both with an early neuronal marker and through the focal application of DiI to telencephalic explants. Both methods revealed that, although tangential neuronal dispersion is present throughout much of the telencephalon, it is restricted within the boundary region separating dorsal and ventral telencephalic proliferative zones. To examine the cellular mechanism underlying this boundary restriction, dissociated cells from the striatum were placed within both areas of the boundary, where dispersion is limited, and areas within the cortex, where significant cellular dispersion occurs. Cells placed within the boundary region remain round and extend only thin processes, whereas progenitors placed onto the cortical ventricular zone away from this boundary are able to migrate extensively. This suggests that the boundary inhibits directly the migration of cells. To examine whether the signal inhibiting dispersion within the boundary region acts as a long- or short-range cue, we apposed explants of boundary and nonboundary regions in vitro. Within these explants we found that migration was neither inhibited in nonboundary regions nor induced in boundary regions. This suggests that the boundary between dorsal and ventral telencephalon isolates these respective environments through either a contact-dependent or a short-range diffusible mechanism.
Psychosocial factors associated with hiv testing amongst scottish gay men

This article describes the relationship between HIV testing and a range of psychosocial, sexual and socio-demographic variables. Trained research staff distributed a self-report questionnaire in the gay bars of Glasgow and Edinburgh, in May 2000. Questionnaires were completed by 803 men (a response rate of 78%). We present the results of both bivariate and multivariate analyses identifying key variables associated with never having had an HIV test. Thus we outline some psychosocial barriers to HIV testing. Multivariate analysis indicated that the most important factor associated with never having tested was fear of a positive result; this was particularly true for those men who reported higher levels of risky sexual conduct. We discuss the relevance of these findings in terms of presenting a psychosocial agenda which demands that stigma and the social exclusion of HIV positive people should be addressed before gay men are encouraged to seek HIV testing.