Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AN IMPROVED SAKAGUCHI REACTION FOR MICROSPECTROPHOTOMETRIC USE

1. The Sakaguchi reaction for arginine has been modified to provide a technique suitable for the quantitative microspectrophotometric estimation of protein arginine. The reagent consists of 2,4-dichloro-α-naphthol, sodium hypochlorite and barium hydroxide. Previous Sakaguchi reagents containing high concentrations of sodium or potassium hydroxide caused extensive damage to the tissue; substitution of barium hydroxide has eliminated this problem. In addition, it appears that barium ions stabilize the resulting Sakaguchi color. 2. Conditions were found for making intensely stained, stable and reproducible preparations which can be dehydrated and mounted to match their index of refraction without loss of colour, and which do not fade significantly for at least two weeks. 3. Intensive acetylation and formalinization, which are thought to block the guanidyl group of arginine, considerably decrease the intensity of the Sakaguchi reaction. 4. The ratio between the amount of Sakaguchi color in bull sperm and in trout sperm, as determined from the results of microspectrophotometric examination, is in rather close agreement with the ratio derived from the amounts of arginine in these cells estimated biochemcially. This supports the concept that the Sakaguchi reaction described here represents a stoichiometric reaction with arginine.
Boosting the Efficiency: Unconventional Waveform Design for Efficient Wireless Power Transfer

Traditionally, wireless power is delivered through single-carrier, continuous-wave (CW) signals. Most research efforts to enhance the efficiency of wireless power transfer systems have been confined to the circuit-level design. However, in recent years, attention has been paid to the waveform design for wireless power transmission. It has been found that signals featuring a high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) can provide efficiency improvement when compared with CW signals. A number of approaches have been proposed, such as multisines/multicarrier orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) signals, chaotic signals, harmonicsignals, ultrawideband (UWB) signals, intermittent CW (ICW) signals, or white-noise signals. This article reviews these techniques with a focus on multisines/multicarrier signals, harmonic signals, and chaotic signals. A theoretical explanation for efficiency improvement is provided and accompanied by experimental results. Circuit design considerations are presented for the receiver side, and efficient transmission architectures are also described with an emphasis on spatial power combining.
Sequence Analysis in Vicinity of Type 2 Diabetes Related SNP rs7903146

The SNP rs7903146 in human TCF7L2 gene has associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in multiple cohorts. TCF7L2 expression in human islets was increased in T2D, particularly in carriers of the TT genotype of SNP rs7903146. Over expression of TCF7L2 in human islets reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The question of why the TCF7L2 genetic variants effect it's self s expression remained unanswered. We analyzed the sequence of about 20 kb range in vicinity of rs7903146 SNP in combination with multiple bioinformatics programs in this study. We predicted 3 real pre-microRNAs on forward strand and 3 on reverse strand of 20 kb vicinity sequence of rs7903146 respectively. Five potential promoters on forward strand and seven on reverse strand were also predicted. The TFSEARCH web server predicted the type 2 diabetes risk "T" allele of rs7903146 SNP has an E4BP4 binding site and two CDX1 binding sites which the common "C" allele has not. We hypothesized that E4BP4, CDX1 and some microRNAs in intron3 transcribed with host gene or independently in intron3 of TCF7L2 are involved in predisposing T2D by TCF7L2 gene variants.
Direct observation of two cyclohexenyl (CeNA) ring conformations in duplex DNA

Cyclohexene Nucleic Acids (CeNA), in which the 2'-deoxyribofuranose ring of the DNA building blocks is substituted by a cyclohexenyl ring, were designed as potential mimics of natural nucleic acids for antisense and, later, for siRNA applications. CeNA units, in contrast to HNA (hexitol nucleic acid) building blocks, show more flexibility at the level of the C2'-C3' bond due to the possibility of the cyclohexenyl moiety to adopt different conformations. In order to analyze the influence of CeNA residues onto the helix conformation and hydration of natural nucleic acid structures and to verify the cyclohexenyl ring conformation, a cyclohexenyl-thymine building block was incorporated into the non-self-complementary sequence d(GCG(xT)GCG)/d(CGCACGC) with (xT) a cyclohexene residue. The crystal structure of this sequence has been determined to a resolution of 1. 17Å and contains two duplexes in the asymmetric unit. The global helices belong to the B-type family and the conformations of the cyclohexenyl rings in both duplexes are different. The cyclohexene ring adopts as well the 2H3-conformation (similar to C2'-endo) as the 3H2-conformation (similar to C3'-endo). The crystal packing is stabilized by cobalt hexamine residues and triplet formation.
Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy And Magneto-Optical Kerr Spectra Of MBE-Grown PtCo Alloy Films

Pt/sub 50/Co/sub 50/ alloy films have been grown by MBE method onto heated MgO(100) and (111) substrates. It is found that films grown on a (111) substrate at 300/spl deg/C have the CuPt type structure, whereas films grown onto (111) substrate at 500/spl deg/C and onto (100) substrate at 300/spl deg/C and 400/spl deg/C form in the PtCo ordered phase with AuCu structure. The film of the CuPt type exhibits a very large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of 1.0/spl times/10/sup 6/ J/m/sup 3/, due to the layered structure along the film normal direction. The spectrum of Kerr rotation /spl theta//sub k/ of the film with CuPt structure is considerably different from that of AuCu structure, not exhibiting a maximum around 4.0 eV but showing a peak at 1.4 eV.
Depressive Classification and Prediction of Response to Phenelzine

Summary A variety of depressive classifications were used to predict response to four weeks' treatment with phenelzine. Better response was found in outpatients rather than inpatients, in atypical depressives, in less severe depressives with a pattern of anxiety and other neurotic symptoms, and in groups characterized as hostile and agitated. The findings, although a little patchy, gave clear support to the concept of a specific clinical group responsive to MAO inhibitors.
Aesthetic QR Code Based on Modified Systematic Encoding Function

Quick Response (QR) code is a two dimensional barcode widely used in many applications. A standard QR code consists of black and white square modules, and it appears randomized patterns. By modifying the modules using certain rule, it is possible to display a logo image on the QR code. Such a QR code is called an aesthetic QR code. In this paper, we change the encoding method of the Reed-Solomon (RS) code to produce an aesthetic QR code without sacrificing its error correcting capability. The proposed method randomly produces candidates of RS blocks and finds the best one during encoding. Considering an image to be displayed, we also introduce a weighting function during random selection that classifies the visually important regions in the image. We further investigate the shape of modules which represents the image and consider the trade-off between the visual quality and its readability. As a result, we can produce a beautiful aesthetic QR code, which still can be decoded by standard QR code reader. key words: 2-dimensional code, aesthetic code, parity check matrix
Photovoltaic Properties of a-C:N/p-Si Heterojunction Solar Cell Synthesized by Microwave Surface Wave Plasma CVD

Amorphous carbon (a-C) thin films have been synthesized by microwave surface wave plasma chemical vapor deposition at low temperature (<100 degC). The influence of nitrogen doping on the properties a-C films is reported. Argon, acetylene and nitrogen (N) were used as a carrier, source and dopant gases. Analytical methods such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Nanopics 2100/NPX200 surface profiler, JASCO V-570 UV/VIS/NIR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Solar simulator were employed to investigate chemical, optical, structural and electrical properties of the films. Successfully nitrogen incorporated (29.37 at. %) into the film was found. The optical band gaps decreased from 2.7 to 1.7 eV. The photovoltaic measurements of a-C:N/p-Si structure show that the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 4.7 mV and a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 19.6 muA/cm2 under light illumination (AM 1.5 100 mW/cm2). The energy conversion efficiency and fill factor of the solar cell were found to be 2.24times10-4 % and 0.24 respectively
Information Security Governance

Abstract Before describing information security governance, we need at least an overview of corporate governance as a context. Fundamentally, corporate governance concerns the means by which managers are held accountable to stakeholders (e.g., investors, employees, society) for the use of assets and by which the firm's directors and managers act in the interests of the firm and these stakeholders. Corporate governance specifies the relationships between, and the distribution of rights and responsibilities among, the four main groups of participants in a corporate body: Board of directors Managers Workers Shareholders or owners
Polymer gel dosimetry for synchrotron stereotactic radiotherapy and iodine dose-enhancement measurements

Synchrotron stereotactic radiotherapy (SSR) is a radiotherapy technique that makes use of the interactions of monochromatic low energy x-rays with high atomic number (Z) elements. An important dose-enhancement can be obtained if the target volume has been loaded with a sufficient amount of a high-Z element, such as iodine. In this study, we compare experimental dose measurements, obtained with normoxic polymer gel (nPAG), with Monte Carlo computations. Gels were irradiated within an anthropomorphic head phantom and were read out by magnetic resonance imaging. The dose-enhancement due to the presence of iodine in the gel (iodine concentration: 5 and 10 mg ml−1) was measured at two radiation energies (35 and 80 keV) and was compared to the calculated factors. nPAG dosimetry was shown to be efficient for measuring the sharp dose gradients produced by SSR. The agreement between 3D gel dosimetry and calculated dose distributions was found to be within 4% of the dose difference criterion and a distance to agreement of 2.1 mm for 80% of the voxels. Polymer gel doped with iodine exhibited higher sensitivity, in good agreement with the calculated iodine-dose enhancement. We demonstrate in this preliminary study that iodine-doped nPAG could be used for measuring in situ dose distributions for iodine-enhanced SSR treatment.
Expression of the Candida albicans GeneALS1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Induces Adherence to Endothelial and Epithelial Cells

ABSTRACT To identify genes encoding adhesins that mediate the binding ofCandida albicans to endothelial cells, a genomic library from this organism was constructed and used to transformSaccharomyces cerevisiae. These transformed organisms were screened for adherence to endothelial cells, and a highly adherent clone was identified. The adherence of this clone to endothelial cells was over 100-fold greater than that of control S. cerevisiae transformed with the empty plasmid. This clone also exhibited enhanced adherence to epithelial cells. The C. albicans gene contained within this clone was found to beALS1. These results indicate that ALS1 may encode a candidal adhesin.
Neuropilins in Tumor Biology

The neuropilin receptors were first discovered as regulators of nervous system development, acting as semaphorin coreceptors with plexins. Subsequently, the neuropilins were identified as receptors for vascular endothelial growth factor. Since those seminal discoveries, additional ligands that bind neuropilins have been described, and many studies have implicated neuropilins in playing key roles in tumor biology. Recent evidence has shown that manipulating neuropilin function can regulate tumor growth and metastasis through effects on vascular biology in the case of neuropilin-1 and lymphatic biology in the case of neuropilin-2. A direct role for neuropilins within in tumor cells has also been postulated. As data continue to accumulate pointing to a role for neuropilins in cancer, the promise for targeting this pathway is beginning to unfold.
The Referral Pattern of End-Stage Renal Disease Patients and the Initiation of Dialysis: A European Perspective

D esPite impressive progress in the medical care of endstage renal disease (ESRD) patients, ESRD is still associated with an unacceptably high mortality rate. To improve the management ofESRD patients, both medical and non medical problems should be addressed (1). It is conceivable that adequate pre-dialysis programs can improve the outcomes provided that patients are referred early to the renal unit and that sufficient resources are available. The latter condition to some extent depends on the health care structure of a given society (2). The present paper focuses on one important determinant ofESRD treatment in several European countries: the influence that the referral pattern ofESRD patients to the renal units has on the choice oftreatment modality, the clinical status of the patients at initiation of dialysis, and patient outcome. This discussion is based on the results of a multicenter European survey on the referral patterns of ESRD patients, extending a previously limited analysis (3) by providing data on patient outcome and on clinical and biochemical parameters at initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT). Although the optimal moment for the initiation of RRT is still debated, there is evidence that a "toolate" start has detrimental and partly irreversible consequences for the outcome of the patient (4-7). It is conceivable that, besides the attention given to a number of secondary medical complications during the pre-ESRD phase, non medical factors such as education and information ofpre-ESRD patients may also exert a positive impact on their prognosis (8,9). In a previous study comprising 14 different Euro pean dialysis units (3), it was demonstrated that in
Towards a Framework for Context-Aware Mobile Information Systems

Design and development of context-aware Information Systems (ISs) is particularly complex, owing to the increasing dependency of people on computing support for making simple decisions or performing their daily tasks. Thus, the need of designing more attractive, adaptable and proactive systems is persistent. In this paper, we present a state of the art of context-aware approaches that are compared and classified. Furthermore, this work tries to support the development of context-aware IS by proposing a context model and defining a modeling context-aware requirements at a suitable level of abstraction by goal-oriented method.
Lymphomatoid Papulosis Type D: Report of a Case in a Child and Review of the Literature

Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a cutaneous CD30‐positive T‐cell lymphoproliferative disorder that occurs primarily in adults and presents with crops of papules that become necrotic and spontaneously regress. It is classified according to the histopathologic findings; currently recognized subtypes include A, B, C, D, and E. LyP is uncommon in children. Herein we describe a child with an unusual clinical presentation of LyP type D and review the literature of reported cases in children.
Developmental genetics in ophthalmology

Much of our knowledge about the function of genes in mammalian development has been derived from the molecular analysis of spontaneous or induced mutations in the mouse. Since mutations affecting the mouse eye can be easily identified, a remarkable number of mutant lines provide animal models for congenital anomalies in man. To understand the mechanisms of lens development in detail, the isolation of the corresponding genes and the characterization of the mutations at the molecular level are important. A prerequisite for molecular analysis is the chromosomal localization of the gene. In this review, some mutants from our institute will be discussed according to the embryological time scale of the expression of the affected genes, reflecting also their genetic hierarchy. (1) In the aphakia mouse mutant, two deletions in the promoter of the homeobox transcription factor Pitx3 lead to a loss of its function and to an arrest of eye development at the lens stalk stage. Mutations in the homologous human PITX3 gene have been demonstrated to be causative of cataracts and the dysmorphology of the anterior segment of the eye. (2) Connexin50 is present in the lens vesicle. Later on, it becomes abundant in the anterior part of the fiber cells and in the lens epithelial cells. Mutations in the connexin50-encoding gene Gja8 lead to dominant cataracts. (3) aAcrystallin is present in the mouse lens cup, in the posterior half of the lens vesicle, and later in a high concentration in the lens fiber cells. Mutations in the aA-crystallin-encoding gene Cryaa lead to recessive and dominant cataracts. (4) Mutations in the ? -crystallin -encoding genes ( Cryg ) are the most frequent cause of congenital, dominant nuclear, or total cataracts in the mouse. Indications from our first studies in congenital human cataracts support these data. (5) Some postnatal, progressive cataracts have been characterized by mutations in the ß-crystallin -encoding genes ( Cryb ). Since at least one of them is also expressed in the retina and the brain, effects on these tissues have to be considered, too.
Interferon Induces Natural Killer Cell Blastogenesis In Vivo

Interferon (IFN), types β and γ, and IFN inducers polyinosinic‐polycytidylic acid and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus all stimulated the generation of blast‐NK cells in mouse spleens. Blast‐NK cells were characterized on the basis of size, 3H‐thymidine uptake, and NK cell markers. These data indicate that in addition to augmenting NK cell‐mediated lysis, IFN may regulate NK cell proliferation in vivo.
Precursor/product antiport in bacteria

Many microorganisms metabolize their substrates (precursors) only partially and excrete the products of the metabolism into the medium. Although uptake of precursor and exit of product can proceed as two independent steps, there is increasing evidence that these processes are often linked and that transport is facilitated by a single antiport mechanism. Features of antiport mechanisms and advantages for the organism of catalysing precursor/product antiport will be illustrated by discussing a number of well‐characterized systems. Based on precursor‐product conversion stoichiometries, structural relatedness between precursors and products, and energetic and kinetic considerations, new examples of antiport systems will be proposed.
Mobile Phone Radiation Does Not Induce Pro-apoptosis Effects in Human Spermatozoa

Abstract Recent reports suggest that mobile phone radiation may diminish male fertility. However, the effects of this radiation on human spermatozoa are largely unknown. The present study examined effects of the radiation on induction of apoptosis-related properties in human spermatozoa. Ejaculated, density-purified, highly motile human spermatozoa were exposed to mobile phone radiation at specific absorption rates (SARs) of 2.0 and 5.7 W/kg. At various times after exposure, flow cytometry was used to examine caspase 3 activity, externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), induction of DNA strand breaks, and generation of reactive oxygen species. Mobile phone radiation had no statistically significant effect on any of the parameters studied. This suggests that the impairment of fertility reported in some studies was not caused by the induction of apoptosis in spermatozoa.
Automatic pediatric otitis detection by classification of global image features

This paper proposes a preliminary study regarding the implementation of a pediatric otorhinolaryngology diagnosis support system for the visual diagnosis of the eardrum, based on the automatic evaluation by digital image processing techniques of the otoscopic digital color images of the eardrum. We compare different color descriptors and classification algorithms (k-Nearest Neighbor, Decision Trees, Linear Discriminant Analysis, Naïve Bayes, Multi Layer Neural Networks and Support Vector Machines) and try to choose the best solution in terms of performance/computation to be included in an integrated framework.
HtrA proteins as targets in therapy of cancer and other diseases

Importance of the field: The HtrA family proteins are serine proteases that are involved in important physiological processes, including maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis, apoptosis and cell signaling. They are involved in the development and progression of several pathological processes such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and arthritic diseases. Areas covered in this review: We present characteristics of the human HtrA1, HtrA2 and HtrA3 proteins, with the stress on their function in apoptosis and in the diseases. We describe regulation of the HtrAs' proteolytic activity, focusing on allosteric interactions of ligands/substrates with the PDZ domains, and make suggestions on how the HtrA proteolytic activity could be modified. Literature cited covers years 1996 – 2010. What the reader will gain: An overview of the HtrAs' function/regulation and involvement in diseases (cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, arthritis), and ideas how modulation of their proteolytic activity could be used in therapies. Take home message: HtrA2 is the best target for cancer drug development. An increase in the HtrAs' proteolytic activity could be beneficial in cancer treatment, by stimulation of apoptosis, anoikis or necrosis of cancer cells, or by modulation of the TGF-β signaling cascade; modulation of HtrA activity could be helpful in therapy of neurodegenerative diseases and arthritis.