Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermal inactivation of a recombinant lipoxygenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa BBE in the absence and presence of additives.

BACKGROUND Bacterial lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.12, LOX) is an important enzyme used as a brightener and strengthening agent during breadmaking. In this study, thermal inactivation of a recombinant LOX of Pseudomonas aeruginosa BBE was characterized by kinetic and thermodynamic analysis in the absence and presence of additives. RESULTS As the heating temperature increased from 25 to 55 °C, the thermal inactivation rate (k) values for LOX without the additives ranged from 0.0407 to 0.2627 min(-1), while the half-life (t1/2) values were between 17.08 and 3.25 min. The activation energy (ΔE) values were increased with rise in heating temperatures from 13.26 to 108.9 kJ mol(-1) . Separate tests at 45 °C in the presence of additives (polyols, sugars and ions) at specific concentrations showed that xylitol (1 mol L(-1)) was the most effective stabilizer for recombinant LOX and increased the t1/2 value by 297%. CONCLUSION Recombinant LOX was sensitive to heat treatment, and addition of polyols, sugars and ions could enhance its thermal stability. Our findings may provide useful information for stabilizing emerging bacterial LOXs.
Image quality and calibration of RADARSAT-2

RADARSAT-2 has 177 operational imaging modes. Versions of each of these modes are available either for left-or right-looking imaging, and most modes allow images to be generated for any of the four linear polarization combinations (HH, VV, HV, VH). To support these modes there are currently 1816 sets of beam coefficients and 16 digitized pulse forms stored on the spacecraft. The radar employs a number of SAR techniques besides the established Stripmap and ScanSAR of RADARSAT-1, including alternating transmit polarization, Dual-Receive (separately on the two antenna wings) and Stitched Pulse. All these factors that provide the versatility for the system also increase the complexity of the task to establish and maintain image quality and calibration. This paper covers work that was undertaken to achieve an efficient image quality and calibration campaign during the first four months of the mission, and to maintain and upgrade imaging capabilities and quality since that period.
Infant Perception of Non-Native Consonant Contrasts that Adults Assimilate in Different Ways

Numerous findings suggest that non-native speech perception undergoes dramatic changes before the infant's first birthday. Yet the nature and cause of these changes remain uncertain. We evaluated the predictions of several theoretical accounts of developmental change in infants' perception of non-native consonant contrasts. Experiment 1 assessed English-learning infants' discrimination of three isiZulu distinctions that American adults had categorized and discriminated quite differently, consistent with the Perceptual Assimilation Model (PAM: Best, 1995; Best et al., 1988). All involved a distinction employing a single articulatory organ, in this case the larynx. Consistent with all theoretical accounts, 6—8 month olds discriminated all contrasts. However, 10—12 month olds performed more poorly on each, consistent with the Articulatory-Organ-matching hypothesis (AO) derived from PAM and Articulatory Phonology (StuddertKennedy & Goldstein, 2003), specifically that older infants should show a decline for non-native distinctions involving a single articulatory organ. However, the results may also be open to other interpretations. The converse AO hypothesis, that non-native betweenorgan distinctions will remain highly discriminable to older infants, was tested in Experiment 2, using a non-native Tigrinya distinction involving lips versus tongue tip. Both ages discriminated this between-organ contrast well, further supporting the AO hypothesis. Implications for theoretical accounts of infant speech perception are discussed.
QUANTITATIVE STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS TO PREDICT ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF SOME BENZIMIDAZOLE DERIVATIVES

The antibacterial activity of some substituted benzimidazole derivatives against Gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli was investigated. The tested compounds displayed in vitro inhibitory activity and their minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined. Quantitative structure-activity relationship has been used to study the relationships between the antibacterial activity and lipophilicity parameter, logP. Lipophilicity parameters were calculated for each molecule by using CS Chem-Office Software version 7.0. Multiple linear regression was used to correlate the logP values and antibacterial activity of benzimidazole derivatives. The results are discussed on the basis of statistical data. The most acceptable QSAR model for prediction of antibacterial activity of the investigated series of benzimidazoles was developed. High agreement between experimental and predicted inhibitory values was obtained. The results of this study indicate that the lipophilicity parameter has a significant effect on antibacterial activity of this class of compounds, thus simplifying design of new biologically active molecules.
The role of cell culture vaccines in the control of the next influenza pandemic

Pandemic influenza A viruses of avian origin are of particular concern and have crossed the species barrier several times in recent years, giving rise to illness and occasionally death in humans. This situation could become dramatically worse if the infectivity of avian viruses for humans were increased by reassortment between the genes of human and avian viruses. Co-infection of humans or an intermediate host with an avian strain and an existing human strain could produce new viruses of unknown pathogenicity to which the entire population would be susceptible. Inactivated vaccines against influenza have been prepared for many years using viruses grown in embryonated chicken eggs. However, the use of eggs presents difficulties when vaccine supplies need to be expanded at short notice. It seems likely that future vaccines will be prepared in high-yielding cell cultures from continuous lines that are preferably anchorage-independent. At present, only certain preparations of the Vero and Madin–Darby canine kidney cell lines, grown and maintained in serum-free medium, are acceptable to all regulatory authorities. However, this situation is likely to change with increasing need for non-pandemic and pandemic vaccines.
Memory, slavery, and plantation museums: the River Road Project

ABSTRACT Heritage tourism plays an increasingly important yet controversial role in interpreting the emotionally and politically charged memories and legacies of African enslavement. Antebellum plantation museums in the southeastern USA remain relatively underanalyzed by researchers, despite their tradition of ignoring and minimizing the contributions and struggles of the slave community. Yet, this neglect is being challenged somewhat by a growing number of plantations and counter-narrative sites that incorporate slavery into docent-led tours, promotional materials, exhibits, and preserved structures. Responding to a need for scholarship that can ferret out the nuances, complexities, and conflicts of producing and consuming heritage at these tourist sites, this special issue presents the results of a study of four plantations (Laura, Oak Alley, Houmas House, San Francisco) along Louisiana's River Road. The issue's editors and contributing authors address a central question: what factors, social actors, and interactions (social and spatial in nature) shape, facilitate, or even constrain the remembering of slavery at southern plantation museums, including those sites making seemingly significant progress in recovering the enslaved? River Road is a microcosm of the larger politics of reshaping southern and American heritage tourism and demonstrates the value of industry-engaged, multi-method examinations of different plantation landscapes within the same region.
Pregnancy Screening before Diagnostic Radiography in Emergency Department; an Educational Review

In modern medical practice, there is an increasing dependence on imaging techniques in most medical specialties. Radiation exposure during pregnancy may have serious teratogenic effects to the fetus. Therefore, checking the pregnancy status before imaging women of child bearing age can protect against these effects. Lack of international regulations and standard protocols exposes the patient to unexpected fetal radiation effects and the health professionals to medicolegal suits. Recently, the American Academy of Radiology and the European community of Medical Ionizing Radiation Protection released national guidelines regarding pregnancy screening before imaging potentially pregnant females. However, different methods of pregnancy screening exist among different radiology centers. This review aims to discuss the most recent guidelines for imaging females of childbearing age and highlight the need for an international regulation to guide pregnancy screening before diagnostic radiation exposure.
Functional characterization of synthetic leukotriene B and its stereochemical isomers

Leukotriene B (LTB), a potent lipid chemotactic factor for neutrophils, is 5S,12R-dihydroxy-6,14-cis,8,10-trans-eicosatetraenoic acid (Fig 1), based upon direct comparison of natural LTB with synthetic 5S,12R- dihydroxy-6,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (5,12-di-HETE) stereoisomers in three biological assays. Of the six synthetic stereoisomers evaluated, only the 5S,12R,6,14-cis,8,10-trans compound had chemotactic potency for human neutrophils in vitro that was comparable to that of natural LTB, with a concentration of 3 X 10(9-9) M eliciting a one-half maximum response. In contrast, the racemic mixture of 5R,12R- and 5S,12S-6,10-trans,8,14-cis, the racemic mixture of 5S,12R- and 5R,12S- 6,10-trans,8,14-cis, the 5S,12R-6,8-trans,10,14-cis, the 5S,12R-6,8,10- trans,14-cis, and the 5S,12S-6,8,10-trans,14-cis stereoisomers required concentrations of 3 X 10(-7) to 1 X 10(-6) M to elicit comparable responses. Only natural LTB and its synthetic counterpart elicited a local neutrophil infiltration when injected into the skin of the rhesus monkey at 10 ng and 100 ng per site. Natural and synthetic LTB at a concentration of 3 X 10(-8) M each provoked an EC25 contractile response of guinea pig pulmonary parenchymal strips in vitro, whereas the other four tested stereoisomers of 5,12-di-HETE were inactive at this concentration. Structure-function analyses suggest that the neutrophil chemotactic activity depends critically upon the C-1 to C-12 domain, including the stereochemistry of the 6-,8-,and 10-olefinic bonds and the presence of both hydroxyl groups.
Induction of Colonic Regulatory T Cells by Indigenous Clostridium Species

Bacteria of the genus Clostridium promote the induction of suppressor T cells in the colons of mice. CD4+ T regulatory cells (Tregs), which express the Foxp3 transcription factor, play a critical role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. Here, we show that in mice, Tregs were most abundant in the colonic mucosa. The spore-forming component of indigenous intestinal microbiota, particularly clusters IV and XIVa of the genus Clostridium, promoted Treg cell accumulation. Colonization of mice by a defined mix of Clostridium strains provided an environment rich in transforming growth factor–β and affected Foxp3+ Treg number and function in the colon. Oral inoculation of Clostridium during the early life of conventionally reared mice resulted in resistance to colitis and systemic immunoglobulin E responses in adult mice, suggesting a new therapeutic approach to autoimmunity and allergy.
An Empirical Bayesian Approach to the Smooth Estimation of Unknown Functions.

Abstract : A Bayesian procedure is described for smoothly estimating unknown functions, given a finite set of observations. It is assumed that a suitable transformation of the function can be taken to possess a Gaussian prior distribution across function space. The five special cases estimation of a logistic density transform, the log intensity function of a non-homogeneous Poisson process, the log hazard function for survival data, the logit function in bioassay, and the mean value function in a possibly non-linear time series of the Kalman types or equivalently a regression function for possibly non-normal observations, are considered, and in each case a non-linear Fredholm equation is described for the posterior estimate. In two cases this reduces to a finite dimensional system. In all five cases an approximate procedure is developed which is particularly useful when the sample size is large. This approximates the function space prior by a multivariate normal prior on the coefficients in a linear approximation, and then proceeds by conventional Bayesian techniques.
CREB-binding Protein Is a Nuclear Integrator of Nuclear Factor-κB and p53 Signaling*

Transcriptional coactivators may function as nuclear integrators by coordinating diverse signaling events. Here we show that the p65 (RelA) component of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and p53 mutually repress each other’s ability to activate transcription. Additionally, tumor necrosis factor-activated NF-κB is inhibited by UV light-induced p53. Both p65 and p53 depend upon the coactivator CREB-binding protein (CBP) for maximal activity. Increased levels of the coactivator relieve p53-mediated repression of NF-κB activity and p65-mediated repression of p53-dependent gene expression. Nuclear competition for limiting amounts of CBP provides a novel mechanism for altering the balance between the expression of NF-κB-dependent proliferation or survival genes and p53-dependent genes involved in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
Comparing various short-form Geriatric Depression Scales leads to the GDS-5/15.

PURPOSE To compare three published short GDS scales and to identify a valid and reliable short-form alternative to the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. DESIGN Comparative validation study via retrospective chart review of 816 acute care patients in an 830-bed academic medical center in the USA in 2001. METHODS Data of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and demographic data were extracted from medical records after patient discharge. Three scales: the D'Ath GDS-4, van Marwijk GDS-4, and Hoyl GDS-5, were compared to the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. RESULTS The Hoyl 5-item version showed the highest sensitivity (97.9%). Concern for GDS-5 false positives when compared to the 15-item GDS (specificity 72.7%) led to re-ordering the 15 GDS items into a new two-tiered instrument, the GDS-5/15. In this study of 816 older adult inpatients, 60% were screened as "not depressed" using the first 5 items on the GDS-5/15, leaving 40% for continued screening and completion of all 15 GDS items. CONCLUSIONS A shorter screening tool might encourage more providers to add depression screening to routine health care visits. The GDS-5/15 is an alternative screening tool.
Effect of heparin‐binding growth‐associated molecule (HB‐GAM) on synaptic transmission and early LTP in rat hippocampal slices

Heparin‐binding growth‐associated molecule (HB‐GAM) is an 18‐kDa developmentally regulated protein, which promotes neurite outgrowth, axonal guidance and synaptogenesis through interaction with cell‐surface heparan‐sulphate proteoglycans. We have studied the effect of HB‐GAM on synaptic transmission and long‐term potentiation (LTP) in the area CA1 of rat hippocampal slices, where HB‐GAM mRNA is expressed in an activity‐dependent manner. Injection of recombinant HB‐GAM into the dendritic area inhibited tetanus‐induced LTP without affecting baseline synaptic responses or the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA)‐receptor mediated transmission. HB‐GAM did not depotentiate tetanus‐induced LTP or prevent heterosynaptic LTP induced by application of tetraethylammonium (TEA), indicating that the effect was limited to early, synapse‐specific stages of LTP induction. These results suggest that HB‐GAM is involved in the regulation of synaptic plasticity in hippocampus.
Pain experienced by patients during periodontal maintenance treatment.

BACKGROUND The aims of this study were to assess the degree of pain experienced by patients during probing and debridement and to determine whether the pain responses could be predicted by the patient's age, gender, percentage of sites > or = 4 mm deep, and responses to a questionnaire on dental anxiety. METHODS Prior to the maintenance procedures, 26 adult patients completed an anxiety questionnaire. Subsequently, measurements of probing depths were performed. The patients activated a tallying device at each probe entry that evoked pain (pain frequency). Pain levels for each quadrant were also assessed with a visual analog scale (VAS). Following probing, the same protocol was repeated during instrumentation (debridement). RESULTS Most patients showed low pain responses to both probing and instrumentation as evaluated by both methods of measurement. However, using arbitrary thresholds of pain frequency > or = 50% and VAS > or = 40 mm, approximately 15% of the patients had a painful experience. Stepwise multiple regression analyses disclosed that significant portions of the pain levels could be predicted by gender and the patients' answers to 2 of the dental anxiety questions. CONCLUSIONS Recognition of patients who are likely to experience pain during periodontal treatment can be facilitated by the use of 2 questions on dental anxiety and the VAS response to probing during examination.
BC-AMAT: Considering Blocked Time in Memory System Measurement

The "memory wall" problem requires not only the use of increasingly aggressive techniques designed to reduce the latency of memory system, but also the raise of more accurate memory metrics. C-AMAT, an extension of AMAT that considers both locality and concurrency of memory accesses, can evaluate the performance of modern memory system more accurately. However, C-AMAT only involves those cycles consumed by memory accesses, ignoring the blocked time caused by some techniques like hardware prefetch, which may result in inaccurate evaluation. In this paper, we propose a more comprehensive memory metric called Blocked C-AMAT (BC-AMAT). It extends C-AMAT to take the blocked cycles into consideration. Experimental results show that BC-AMAT correlates much better with IPC than C-AMAT does when a few prefetch strategies are applied both in single-core mode and multi-core mode. In addition, a case study is provided in which BC-AMAT is used to adjust prefetching degree dynamically. The result shows that BC-AMAT achieves higher performance improvement than C-AMAT, demonstrating its usefulness in system optimization. BC-AMAT is more accurate and comprehensive than C-AMAT in evaluating modern memory systems, meanwhile, provides more insight for architecture design.
Compact ‘butterfly’ microwave Ultra-Wideband filter

In this paper, a compact 5 poles ultra-wideband (UWB) microwave filter is designed by using a quarter wave short-circuited stubs. The UWB filter bandwidth is covered from 2.75 GHz to 10.0 GHz. This filter designed is developed from a Low Pass Chebyshev prototype with a 0.1dB passband ripple. The first pattern layout uses 5 vias connecting to the ground. This pattern layout is then re-arranged to reduce the total area space needed on microstrip by maintaining the optimum filter response. Finally, a compact microwave filter with 21 mm times 16.1 mm dimension is presented here with excellent scattering characteristic results.
A digitally controlled PLL for digital SOCs

A fully integrated digitally controlled PLL used as a clock multiplying circuit is designed and fabricated. The PLL has no off-chip components and it is made from standard cells found in most digital standard cell libraries. It is therefore portable between processes as an IP-block. Using a 0.35 /spl mu/m standard CMOS process and a 3.0 V supply, the PLL has a frequency range of 152 MHz to 366 MHz and occupies an on-chip area of about 0.07 mm/sup 2/. In addition, the next version of this all-digital PLL is described in synthesizable VHDL-code, which simplifies digital system simulation and change of process. A new time-to-digital converter with simulated resolution of 250 ps is made for the next PLL.
Automating the Distribution Network

The arrival of microelectronics and communications technology for power distribution systems promises a new era in the way utilities deliver electricity to customers. For example, utilities will be able to electronically sense storm-related faults on distribution lines and reroute power automatically to minimize the number of customers affected and reduce the time to restore service to others. Meter reading will be performed automatically and more accurately by computer. When a utility has to limit peak demand, it will be able to send electronic commands to its customers air conditioners and other energy-intensive equipment, causing them to cycle off and on and therby lower the total demand on the system. Automating many of the functions now performed by electromechanical switches and relays will improve reliability, reduce costs, and offer greater opportunities for conservation and load management. The immediate goal for a utility considering distribution automation should be to develop a master plan for determining the functions to be automated and the economic costs and benefits.
Characterization of the deflections of a catheter steered using a magnetic resonance imaging system.

PURPOSE The authors quantify the deflections of a catheter and a guidewire in MR setting with different designs of ferromagnetic tips and a system of high gradient coils which can generate gradients, and thus forces, 20 times larger than a conventional scanner. METHODS Different designs of catheter tips are experimentally tested in an effort to maximize the deflections. One to two ferromagnetic spheres are attached at the distal tip of the catheter (or guidewire) with different spacing between the spheres. The effect of dipole-dipole interaction on the steering of the catheter is studied through experimentation and theoretical modeling. The effect of using many spheres on the artefact generated in fast imaging sequences is also investigated. RESULTS A catheter and a guidewire are successfully steered by applying magnetic gradients inside a magnetic resonance scanner. More ferromagnetic material allows for larger magnetic forces, however, the use of two ferromagnetic spheres introduces undesired dipole-dipole interactions. Two ferromagnetic spheres generate a single larger artefact as they are close together. CONCLUSIONS By varying the distance between the two ferromagnetic spheres, a balance can be struck between the need to minimize the size of the tip and the undesirable dipole-dipole interaction.
A low-power 14-b 5 MS/s CMOS pipeline ADC with background analog self-calibration

This paper presents a low-power 14-b 5 MS/s area-optimized pipelined ADC with background analog self-calibration. Measured results from the prototypes fabricated in a 0.6 µm 5 V DPDM CMOS technology show 13.5-b DNL, 12-b INL, 80 dB SFDR and 76 dB SNDR. The core area is 10mm2and it dissipates less than 145mW at 5V.