Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low molecular weight chitosan nanoparticulate system at low N:P ratio for nontoxic polynucleotide delivery

Chitosan, a natural polymer, is a promising system for the therapeutic delivery of both plasmid DNA and synthetic small interfering RNA. Reports attempting to identify the optimal parameters of chitosan for synthetic small interfering RNA delivery were inconclusive with high molecular weight at high amine-to-phosphate (N:P) ratios apparently required for efficient transfection. Here we show, for the first time, that low molecular weight chitosan (LMW-CS) formulations at low N:P ratios are suitable for the in vitro delivery of small interfering RNA. LMW-CS nanoparticles at low N:P ratios were positively charged (ζ-potential ~20 mV) with an average size below 100 nm as demonstrated by dynamic light scattering and environmental scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Nanoparticles were spherical, a shape promoting decreased cytotoxicity and enhanced cellular uptake. Nanoparticle stability was effective for at least 20 hours at N:P ratios above two in a slightly acidic pH of 6.5. At a higher basic pH of 8, these nanoparticles were unravelled due to chitosan neutralization, exposing their polynucleotide cargo. Cellular uptake ranged from 50% to 95% in six different cell lines as measured by cytometry. Increasing chitosan molecular weight improved nanoparticle stability as well as the ability of nanoparticles to protect the oligonucleotide cargo from nucleases at supraphysiological concentrations. The highest knockdown efficiency was obtained with the specific formulation 92-10-5 that combines sufficient nuclease protection with effective intracellular release. This system attained >70% knockdown of the messenger RNA, similar to commercially available lipoplexes, without apparent cytotoxicity. Contrary to previous reports, our data demonstrate that LMW-CS at low N:P ratios are efficient and nontoxic polynucleotide delivery systems capable of transfecting a plethora of cell lines.
A model-free approach to vibration suppression for intrinsically elastic robots

Robots with joint elasticity find increasing interest in many research areas. A common design goal is to achieve as little mechanical joint damping as possible. To still achieve system damping often control systems are used. Here, we present a model-free approach to achieve damping via exploiting the kinetic to potential energy transformation process of the robot mass and the joint elasticity. The controller acts in an energetically passive way and is applicable to multi-joint systems. The theoretical findings and simulations are substantiated by experiments on the DLR Hand Arm System.
Pere Pionnier and Late Nineteenth-Century Bislama

Recent years have seen the questioning of a number of widely held views about the early development of Melanesian Pidgin, with some writers debating Muhlhausler's claim that many of the characteristic features of modern Tok Pisin represent later, twentieth-century, innovations, rather than retentions from what others would argue was a more modern-looking Melanesian Pidgin spoken in the late nineteenth century. This paper argues in support of the contention that many of the lexical and grammatical features that today seem to suggest that Tok Pisin has innovated relatively recently are in fact older retentions, and that these features were recorded in an important grammatical sketch of Bislama published by Pere Pionnier in 1913 on the basis of information that he gathered in the 1890s in Vanuatu.
High throughput asynchronous NoC switch for high process variation

Asynchronous NoC switch is proposed as a robust design to mitigate the impact of process variation. Circuit analysis is used to evaluate the influence of process variation on both synchronous and asynchronous designs. The delay and throughput variation are evaluated with different technologies. Although the asynchronous switch has large delay variation as compared to synchronous switch, high throughput is achieved under high process variation conditions. The throughput remains unchanged under high process variation conditions in asynchronous NoC switch, while the throughput of synchronous switch is rapidly reduced at the same conditions.
Real-Time Segmentation of Stereo Videos on a Portable System With a Mobile GPU

In mobile robotic applications, visual information needs to be processed fast despite resource limitations of the mobile system. Here, a novel real-time framework for model-free spatiotemporal segmentation of stereo videos is presented. It combines real-time optical flow and stereo with image segmentation and runs on a portable system with an integrated mobile graphics processing unit. The system performs online, automatic, and dense segmentation of stereo videos and serves as a visual front end for preprocessing in mobile robots, providing a condensed representation of the scene that can potentially be utilized in various applications, e.g., object manipulation, manipulation recognition, visual servoing. The method was tested on real-world sequences with arbitrary motions, including videos acquired with a moving camera.
Gene classification of dengue virus type based on codon usage

Dengue virus infection or dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus (DENV). It is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. There are four serotypes classified together based on their surface antigens. Each serotype can provide specific immunity and short-term cross-immunity in human. Several studies have examined the classification of dengue molecules into four major classes including methods such as machine learning using codon usage as features. In this work we directly classify dengue molecules using their primary sequences. Thus, we have compared different methods for data classification to classify sequences of dengue molecules. The method was tested on 372 dengue sequences from major classes. Using a tenfold cross-validation, the neural network yields 96.22% of prediction accuracy for classifying dengue classes.
Genomewide association analysis of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Modern genotyping platforms permit a systematic search for inherited components of complex diseases. We performed a joint analysis of two genomewide association studies of coronary artery disease. METHODS We first identified chromosomal loci that were strongly associated with coronary artery disease in the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC) study (which involved 1926 case subjects with coronary artery disease and 2938 controls) and looked for replication in the German MI [Myocardial Infarction] Family Study (which involved 875 case subjects with myocardial infarction and 1644 controls). Data on other single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were significantly associated with coronary artery disease in either study (P<0.001) were then combined to identify additional loci with a high probability of true association. Genotyping in both studies was performed with the use of the GeneChip Human Mapping 500K Array Set (Affymetrix). RESULTS Of thousands of chromosomal loci studied, the same locus had the strongest association with coronary artery disease in both the WTCCC and the German studies: chromosome 9p21.3 (SNP, rs1333049) (P=1.80x10(-14) and P=3.40x10(-6), respectively). Overall, the WTCCC study revealed nine loci that were strongly associated with coronary artery disease (P<1.2x10(-5) and less than a 50% chance of being falsely positive). In addition to chromosome 9p21.3, two of these loci were successfully replicated (adjusted P<0.05) in the German study: chromosome 6q25.1 (rs6922269) and chromosome 2q36.3 (rs2943634). The combined analysis of the two studies identified four additional loci significantly associated with coronary artery disease (P<1.3x10(-6)) and a high probability (>80%) of a true association: chromosomes 1p13.3 (rs599839), 1q41 (rs17465637), 10q11.21 (rs501120), and 15q22.33 (rs17228212). CONCLUSIONS We identified several genetic loci that, individually and in aggregate, substantially affect the risk of development of coronary artery disease.
Muscle strength, functional performance, and self-reported outcomes four years after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in middle-aged patients.

OBJECTIVE To examine thigh muscle strength, functional performance, and self-reported outcome in patients with nontraumatic meniscus tears 4 years after operation, and to study the impact of a strength deficit on self-reported outcome and evaluate the feasibility of 3 performance tests in this patient group. METHODS The study group comprised 45 patients (36% women, mean age 46.7) who had an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy a mean of 4 years (range 1-6 years) previously. Main outcome measures included isokinetic strength of knee extensors and flexors, functional performance (1-leg hop, 1-leg rising, and square-hop tests), and a self-reported questionnaire (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score). RESULTS We found lower knee extensor strength and worse 1-leg rising capacity in the operated leg, but no difference between operated and nonoperated leg for knee flexors (P < or = 0.004 and P > 0.3, respectively). Patients with a stronger quadriceps of the operated leg compared with the nonoperated leg had less pain and better function and quality of life (r = 0.4-0.6, P < or = 0.010). We found the 1-leg rising and 1-leg hop tests to be suitable performance tests in middle-aged meniscectomy patients. CONCLUSION Quadriceps strength is reduced in the meniscectomized leg compared with the nonoperated leg 4 years after surgery. This relative quadriceps weakness significantly affects objective and self-reported knee function, pain, and quality of life, indicating the importance of restoring muscle function after meniscectomy in middle-aged patients.
Optimal investment in incomplete markets when wealth may become negative

This paper accompanies a previous one from 1999 by D. Kramkov and the present author. There, we considered utility functions $U:\R_+ \to \R$ satisfying the Inada conditions $U'(0)=\infty$ and $U'(\infty)=0$, in the present paper we consider utility functions $U:\R\to\R$ which are finitely valued, for all $x\inftyn\R$, and satisfy $U'(-\infty)=\infty$ and $U'(\infty)=0$. A typical example of this situation is the exponential utility $U(x)=- \e^(-x)$. In the setting of the former paper the following crucial condition on the asymptotic elasticity of $U$, as $x$ tends to $+\infty$, was isolated: $\limsup_(x\to +\infty) \frac(x U'(x))(U(x)) 1$. If both conditions are satisfied - we then say that the utility function $U$ has reasonable asymptotic elasticity - we prove an existence theorem for the optimal investment in a general semi-martingale model of a financial market and for a utility function $U:\R\to\R$ , which is finitely valued on all of $\R$; this theorem is parallel to the main result of the former paper. We give examples showing that the reasonable asymptotic elasticity of $U$ also is a necessary condition for several key assertions of the theory to hold true. (author's abstract)
HCI, natural science and design: a framework for triangulation across disciplines

Human-computer interaction is multidiscipli nary, drawing paradigms and techniques from both the natural sciences and the design disciplines. HCI cannot be considered a pure natural science because it studies the interaction between people and artificially-created artifacts, rather than naturally-occurring phenomena, which violates several basic assumptions of natural science. Similarly, HCI cannot be considered a pure design discipline because it strives to independently verify design decisions and processes, and borrows many values from scientists. The purpose of this paper is to provide a simple framework that describes how the research and design models underlying HCI can be integrated. We explore the relationships among these approaches in the context of a particular research site, CENA, the Centre d' Etudes de la Navigation Aerienne, and illustrate how the various disciplines can contribute to a complex design problem: improving the interface to the French air traffic control system. The framework provides one perspective for understanding the various research approaches, and, more importantly, suggests new research directions. The resulting crossdisciplinary triangulation can increase the effectiveness of the individual research and design approaches.
Serum Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Cortisol to Sulfate of Dehydroepiandrosterone Molar Ratio Associated With Clinical Response to l-Theanine as Augmentation of Antipsychotic Therapy in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder Patients

Objectives:l-Theanine (&ggr;-glutamylethylamide) augmentation to antipsychotic therapy ameliorates positive, activation, and anxiety symptoms in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder patients. This study examines the association between circulating levels of neurochemical indicators and the beneficial clinical effects of l-theanine augmentation. Methods:Serum levels of neurochemical indicators such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulfate (DHEAS), cortisol, cholesterol, and insulin were monitored in 40 schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder patients during an 8-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with l-theanine (400 mg/d). Multiple regression analysis was applied for searching association between improvement in symptom scores and changes in circulating levels of neurochemical indicators for an 8-week trial. Results:Regression models among l-theanine-treated patients indicate that circulating levels of BDNF and cortisol-to-DHEAS*100 molar ratio were significantly associated with the beneficial clinical effects of l-theanine augmentation. Variability of serum BDNF levels accounted for 26.2% of the total variance in reduction of dysphoric mood and 38.2% in anxiety scores. In addition, the changes in cortisol-to-DHEAS*100 molar ratio accounted for 30% to 34% of the variance in activation factor and dysphoric mood scores and for 15.9% in anxiety scores. Regression models among placebo-treated patients did not reach significant level. Conclusions:These preliminary results indicate that circulating BDNF and cortisol-to-DHEAS*100 molar ratio may be involved in the beneficial clinical effects of l-theanine as augmentation of antipsychotic therapy in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder patients.
The effect of selected pace variations on the oxygen requirement of running a 4:37 mile.

Abstract Nine experienced middle distance runners completed three experimental runs of equal distance and duration on a motor driven treadmill. Each run varied according to pace (steady, fast-slow-fast, and slow-fast), with the individual order of runs rotated to prevent bias in this respect. Heart rate and oxygen consumption measures were taken during rest, exercise and a 30-minute recovery period. Oxygen consumption values for the 30–90 minute recovery period were extrapolated from earlier measured recovery values. Analysis of data indicated that there were no significant differences among the three pace plans in net oxygen intake during the runs. However, the total oxygen debt value for the steady pace was lower than that for either the fast-slow-fast or the slow-fast paces. The total net oxygen requirement for the steady pace was found to be significantly less than that for the other two paces with no significant difference between the fast-slow-fast and slow-fast paces. It was concluded that a steady.
Defining Learning Outcomes of Co-Curricular Activities: Integrating Desired Commonalities

Higher education scenario is undergoing a massive transformation, triggered by host of events. The efforts are on to recalibrate Higher Education all over the world. Paradigm shift is from teaching to learning. Realization of learning as a conscious process and importance of formal and informal learning spaces is gathering pace. It has been felt that need is to make learning tangible and measurable. Defining outcome of the courses and programmes are the part of Outcome Based Education, but formal and core courses target cognitive and psychomotor domain in Engineering curriculum but affective domain still remains untouched. The affective domains can be taught and learned through informal learnings. This paper will throw light upon the efforts of defining the co-curricular activities which, inculcates affective domain in a more robust manner. The precise and tangible outcome in the activities mostly related with affective domain are termed as Activity Learning Outcome (ALOs). The activities which can be the part of teaching - learning methodology like blogging and virtual labs or cooperative teaching and industrial visits, have well-articulated outcomes in sync with Bloom's Taxonomy. The paper will discuss the desired commonalities and its manifestation in the Activity learning outcomes (ALOs) for education giving impetus to systemic or holistic thinking, the assimilation of different perspectives, skills such as critical thinking, interpersonal relations and communication, and finally different attitudes and values.
Addition of poly(A) and poly(A)-rich tails during RNA degradation in the cytoplasm of human cells

Polyadenylation of RNA is a posttranscriptional modification that can play two somewhat opposite roles: stable polyadenylation of RNA encoded in the nuclear genomes of eukaryote cells contributes to nuclear export, translation initiation, and possibly transcript longevity as well. Conversely, transient polyadenylation targets RNA molecules to rapid exonucleolytic degradation. The latter role has been shown to take place in prokaryotes and organelles, as well as the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. Here we present evidence of hetero- and homopolymeric adenylation of truncated RNA molecules within the cytoplasm of human cells. RNAi-mediated silencing of the major RNA decay machinery of the cell resulted in the accumulation of these polyadenylated RNA fragments, indicating that they are degradation intermediates. Together, these results suggest that a mechanism of RNA decay, involving transient polyadenylation, is present in the cytoplasm of human cells.
Segment-based free space estimation using plane normal vector in disparity space

This paper proposes a framework of segment-based free space estimation using plane normal vector with stereo vision. An image is divided into compact superpixels and each of them is viewed as a plane composed of the normal vector in disparity space. To deal with the variation of illumination and shading in real traffic scenes, we estimate depth information for the segmented stereo pair. The representative normal vector is then computed at superpixel-level, which alleviates the problems of conventional color-based approaches and depth-based approaches simultaneously. Based on the assumption that the central-bottom of input image is navigable region, the free space is then determined by clustering the plane normal vectors with the K-means algorithm. In experiments, the proposed approach is evaluated on the KITTI dataset in which we provide the ground truth labels for free space region. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed framework effectively estimates the free space under various real traffic scenes, and outperforms current state of the art methods both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Genetic algorithm based test scheduling and test access mechanism design for system-on-chips

We present a genetic algorithm (GA) based approach to solve the problems of test scheduling and test access mechanism partition for system on chips. The approach provides highly optimal results, comparable to the integer linear programming formulation of similar problems within very small CPU times. The results of GA based approach are shown to be superior to the heuristic approaches proposed in the literature.
SELECTION AGAINST LATE EMERGENCE AND SMALL OFFSPRING IN ATLANTIC SALMON (SALMO SALAR)

Abstract Timing of breeding and offspring size are maternal traits that may influence offspring competitive ability, dispersal, foraging, and vulnerability to predation and climatic conditions. To quantify the extent to which these maternal traits may ultimately affect an organism's fitness, we undertook laboratory and field experiments with Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). To control for confounding effects caused by correlated traits, manipulations of the timing of fertilization combined with intraclutch comparisons were used. In the wild, a total of 1462 juveniles were marked at emergence from gravel nests. Recapture rates suggest that up to 83.5% mortality occurred during the first four months after emergence from the gravel nests, with the majority (67.5%) occurring during the initial period ending 17 days after median emergence. Moreover, the mortality was selective during this initial period, resulting in a significant phenotypic shift toward an earlier date of and an increased length at emergence. However, no significant selection differentials were detected thereafter, indicating that the critical episode of selection had occurred at emergence. Furthermore, standardized selection gradients indicated that selection was more intense on date of than on body size at emergence. Timing of emergence had additional consequences in terms of juvenile body size. Late-emerging juveniles were smaller than early-emerging ones at subsequent samplings, both in the wild and in parallel experiments conducted in seminatural stream channels, and this may affect success at subsequent size-selective episodes, such as winter mortality and reproduction. Finally, our findings also suggest that egg size had fitness consequences independent of the effects of emergence time that directly affected body size at emergence and, in turn, survival and size at later life stages. The causality of the maternal effects observed in the present study supports the hypothesis that selection on juvenile traits may play an important role in the evolution of maternal traits in natural populations. Corresponding Editor: L. Bernatchez
The role of prenatal nutrition assistance on the prevalence of night blindness in pregnant adults.

INTRODUCTION In developing countries, night blindness is a very common public health problem among pregnant women. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the effect of the changes occurred on prenatal care concerning prenatal nutritional care on the occurrence of night blindness (XN) in adult pregnant women in public maternity hospital in Rio de Janeiro between 1999-2001 and between 2007-2008. METHODS Two cross-sectional studies were conducted, been the first one conducted between 1999-2001 and the second one between 2007-2008. Were studied 402 puerperal women, 225 between 1999-2001 (GI) and 177 between 2007-2008 (GII). The gestational XN was investigated during the immediate puerperium (GI) and during the prenatal/puerperium (GII), diagnosed by the World Health Organization. The study collected sociodemographic, clinical, obstetric, anthropometric and prenatal care information. RESULTS It verified significant reduce of prevalence of gestational XN (GI = 18.7% e GII = 0.6%, p < 0.001). The occurrence of gestational XN was associated to sanitary conditions, education level, more than six prenatal consultations, miscarriage at last pregnancy, higher average number of deliveries, average number of prenatal care consultations and prenatal nutritional (p < 0.05). There was no association between gestational XN and marital status, skin color, pre-gestational nutritional status, adequacy of gain of total gestational weight, gestational anaemia and average number of pregnancies (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION The inclusion of nutritional care in routine prenatal care may have contributed to the reduction of gestational XN. Studies to assess the nutritional intervention in the prevention and treatment of gestational XN at regions at greatest risk are suggested.