Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient generation of transgenic reporter strains and analysis of expression patterns in Caenorhabditis elegans using library MosSCI

Background: In C. elegans, germline development and early embryogenesis rely on posttranscriptional regulation of maternally transcribed mRNAs. In many cases, the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) is sufficient to govern the expression patterns of these transcripts. Several RNA‐binding proteins are required to regulate maternal mRNAs through the 3′UTR. Despite intensive efforts to map RNA‐binding protein–mRNA interactions in vivo, the biological impact of most binding events remains unknown. Reporter studies using single copy integrated transgenes are essential to evaluate the functional consequences of interactions between RNA‐binding proteins and their associated mRNAs. Results: In this report, we present an efficient method of generating reporter strains with improved throughput by using a library variant of MosSCI transgenesis. Furthermore, using RNA interference, we identify the suite of RNA‐binding proteins that control the expression pattern of five different maternal mRNAs. Conclusions: The results provide a generalizable and efficient strategy to assess the functional relevance of protein–RNA interactions in vivo, and reveal new regulatory connections between key RNA‐binding proteins and their maternal mRNA targets. Developmental Dynamics 245:925–936, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Biomimetic Adhesive Materials Containing Cyanoacryl Group for Medical Application

For underwater adhesives with biocompatible and more flexible bonds using biomimetic adhesive groups, DOPA-like adhesive molecules were modified with cyanoacrylates to obtain different repeating units and chain length copolymers. The goal of this work is to copy the mechanisms of underwater bonding to create synthetic water-borne underwater medical adhesives through blending of the modified DOPA and a triblock copolymer (PEO-PPO-PEO) for practical application to repair wet living tissues and bones, and in turn, to use the synthetic adhesives to test mechanistic hypotheses about the natural adhesive. The highest values in stress and modulus of the biomimetic adhesives prepared in wet state were 165 kPa and 33 MPa, respectively.
Structure and biosynthesis of surface polymers containing polysialic acid in Escherichia coli.

Membranous sialyltransferase complexes from Escherichia coli K-235 catalyze the synthesis of surface polymers containing alpha-2,8-ketosidically linked polysialic acid. Undecaprenyl phosphate functions as an intermediate carrier of sialic acid (NeuNAc) residues between cytidine 5'-monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-NeuNAc) and an endogenous acceptor (Troy, F.A., and McCloskey, M.A. (1979) J. Biol. Chem 254, 7377-7387). In vitro pulse-chase experiments now confirm that polymer elongation occurs by the addition of sialyl residues to the nonreducing termini of growing nascent chains. Sequential periodate oxidation and borohydride reduction of radiolabeled polysialic acid was used to quantitatively convert the terminal, nonreducing sialic acid to the 7-carbon analogue, 5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-L-arabino-2-heptulosonic acid (NeuNAc7). After complete hydrolysis of the polymers by neuraminidase, the ratio between NeuNAc and NeuNAc7 was used to determine the average degree of polymerization (D.P.). The membrane preparations used as a source of enzyme contained endogenous sialyl polymers that averaged 165 residues in length. During the first phase of in vitro synthesis, lasting about 90 min, 40 to 45 sialyl residues were transferred onto these endogenous acceptors. Subsequent in vitro incorporation increased at a slower, constant rate for at least 16 h. During this second phase of synthesis, the D.P. of newly synthesized chains remained relatively constant while the number of nonreducing terminal end groups, a measure of the number of new sialyl chains, increased. These results establish that individual polymer chains are rapidly elongated in vitro to a defined length of about 200 sialyl residues, then terminated and new chains started. The mechanism signaling chain termination, translocation of the sialyltransferase to a new acceptor, and chain reinitiation remains to be determined. Endogenous and enzymatically synthesized sialyl polymers were solubilized with Triton X-100 and purified to apparent homogeneity. Sialic acid accounted for approximately 93% of the mass of these polymers which had no free reducing terminal sialic acid. This position of the molecule is presumably occupied by an as yet unidentified component which links the sialyl polymer to the membrane.
Chemotactic cytokines in the epidermis

In a variety of inflammatory skin disorders the pattern of histologieally deteetable leukocyte forms and subsets in the affected tissue often is characteristic for the type or stage of the skin disease. This elinieal observation raises the question as to whieh faetors determine the appearance and eomposition of leukoeyte tissue inftltrates. Skin diseases such as psoriasis, whieh show a preferential epidermal infiltration by neutrophils and T lymphocytes, appeared to be model inflammatory diseases for testing the hypothesis that generation of leukoeyte ehemotaetie faetors (ehemotaxins) oeeurs in vivo in the tissue: Langhof & Muller in 1966 were the first to deseribe that neutrophils were attracted in vitro by mixtures of psoriatie seales and serum (1). More detailed investigations later led to the conclusion that neutrophil attraetants present in psoriatie lesions appeared to be eomplement-derived (2), and therefore are not tissue cell-derived but blood-borne. With the deteetion of lipid attraetants like the potent chemotaxin leukotriene B4 (3), platelet activating faetor (4) and the low potency ehemotaetie lipid 12-hydroxyeieosatetraenoie aeid (12-HETE) in lesional epidermis or seales obtained from psoriatie patients (5) it was diseussed whether these faetors are of importance in elieiting and perpetuating tissue infiltration by neutrophils. Eurthermore, there was some evidenee that epidermal eells are able to produee ehemotaetie lipids sueh as LTB4 (6, 7) and 12-HETE (8) and therefore these faetors appeared to explain the accumulation of neutrophils in psoriatie lesions. Recent studies (9, 10), however, revealed that keratinoeytes apparently produee LTB4 only in very low amounts if any and therefore seem not to be the major souree of this potent ehemotaetie faetor. Instead, it is hkely that immigrated neutrophils produee the majority of LTB4 in the psoriatie lesion. When looking for meehanisms of preferential neutrophil accumulation in the epidermis of aetive psoriasis, another aspect is of great importance: the ehemotaetie faetors mentioned above and deteeted in psoriatic lesions are ehemotaetie for a wide variety of leukocytes and do not show a speeifieity for neutrophils. Therefore it would be diffieult to explain seleetive neutrophil and T lymphoeyte, but not tnonoeyte and eosinophil aeeumulation in the lesional epidermis of aetive psoriasis. Consequently, it was tempting to speeulate whether, apart from the pan-leukoeyte ehemotaetie faetors C5a, LTB4 and PAF, also neutrophil-seleetive attraetants are present in psoriatie epidermis.
On signal distortion in compact UWB arrays due to element interaction

Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology offers significant advantages in high resolution ranging due to the superior time-of-arrival (TOA) resolution. In order to allow direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation from simultaneous TOA measurements multiple UWB antennas are required. This paper deals with systems characterized by a frequency bandwidth exceeding the center frequency (e.g. 3.1 to 10.6 GHz). Furthermore, it is focused on the special case where due to a restricted platform size the antenna spacing cannot be chosen large enough in order to avoid severe distortion in the angular dependence of the complex-valued transfer function caused by mutual interaction between the antenna elements. In this paper the impact of this signal distortion on the ranging accuracy is discussed. Furthermore, a novel approach for a first-order compensation of this drawback is presented.
Fixed-Time Consensus Tracking for Multiagent Systems With High-Order Integrator Dynamics

This paper addresses the fixed-time leader–follower consensus problem for high-order integrator multiagent systems subject to matched external disturbances. A new cascade control structure, based on a fixed-time distributed observer, is developed to achieve the fixed-time consensus tracking control. A simulation example is included to show the efficacy and the performance of the proposed control structure with respect to different initial conditions.
Multithreaded real-time 3D image processing software architecture and implementation

Recently, 3D displays and videos have generated a lot of interest in the consumer electronics industry. To make 3D capture and playback popular and practical, a user friendly playback interface is desirable. Towards this end, we built a real time software 3D video player. The 3D video player displays user captured 3D videos, provides for various 3D specific image processing functions and ensures a pleasant viewing experience. Moreover, the player enables user interactivity by providing digital zoom and pan functionalities. This real time 3D player was implemented on the GPU using CUDA and OpenGL. The player provides user interactive 3D video playback. Stereo images are first read by the player from a fast drive and rectified. Further processing of the images determines the optimal convergence point in the 3D scene to reduce eye strain. The rationale for this convergence point selection takes into account scene depth and display geometry. The first step in this processing chain is identifying keypoints by detecting vertical edges within the left image. Regions surrounding reliable keypoints are then located on the right image through the use of block matching. The difference in the positions between the corresponding regions in the left and right images are then used to calculate disparity. The extrema of the disparity histogram gives the scene disparity range. The left and right images are shifted based upon the calculated range, in order to place the desired region of the 3D scene at convergence. All the above computations are performed on one CPU thread which calls CUDA functions. Image upsampling and shifting is performed in response to user zoom and pan. The player also consists of a CPU display thread, which uses OpenGL rendering (quad buffers). This also gathers user input for digital zoom and pan and sends them to the processing thread.
Isolation of Novel Pelagic Bacteria from the German Bight and Their Seasonal Contributions to Surface Picoplankton

ABSTRACT We tested new strategies for the isolation of abundant bacteria from coastal North Sea surface waters, which included reducing by several orders of magnitude the concentrations of inorganic N and P compounds in a synthetic seawater medium. Agar plates were resampled over 37 days, and slowly growing colonies were allowed to develop by repeatedly removing all newly formed colonies. A fivefold increase of colonies was observed on plates with reduced nutrient levels, and the phylogenetic composition of the culture collection changed over time, towards members of the Roseobacter lineage and other alpha-proteobacteria. Novel gamma-proteobacteria from a previously uncultured but cosmopolitan lineage (NOR5) formed colonies only after 12 days of plate incubation. A time series of German Bight surface waters (January to December 1998) was screened by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with isolate-specific and general probes. During spring and early summer, a prominent fraction of FISH-detectable bacteria (mean, 51%) were affiliated with theCytophaga-Flavobacterium group (CF) of theBacteroidetes. One Cytophaga sp. lineage with cultured representatives formed almost 20% of the CF group. Members of the Roseobacter cluster constituted approximately 50% of alpha-proteobacteria, but none of the Roseobacter-related isolates formed populations of >1% in the environment. Thus, the readily culturable members of this clade are probably not representative of Roseobacter species that are common in the water column. In contrast, members of NOR5 were found at high abundances (>105 cells ml−1) in the summer plankton. Some abundant pelagic bacteria are apparently able to form colonies on solid media, but appropriate isolation techniques for different species need to be developed.
The marginal cost of satellite versus in‐center hemodialysis

Background: Despite increasing numbers of patients receiving hemodialysis in satellite units (SHD), the economic aspects have not been widely explored. A cost analysis of SHD and in‐center hemodialysis (ICHD) from a societal perspective was performed to establish the efficiencies associated with shifting resources and patients from ICHD to SHD.
Risk of cancer in a large cohort of U.S. veterans with diabetes

Prior studies of cancer risk among diabetic men have reported inconsistent findings. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of cancer among a large cohort (n = 4,501,578) of black and white U.S. veterans admitted to Veterans Affairs hospitals. The cancer risk among men with diabetes (n = 594,815) was compared to the risk among men without diabetes (n = 3,906,763). Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Overall, men with diabetes had a significantly lower risk of cancer (RR = 0.93, 95%CI = 0.93–0.94). Men with diabetes, however, had increased risks of cancers of the liver (RR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.82–2.09), pancreas (RR = 1.50, 95%CI = 1.42–1.59), biliary tract (RR = 1.41, 95%CI = 1.22–1.62), colon (RR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.16–1.25), rectum (RR = 1.12, 95%CI = 1.07–1.18), and kidney (RR = 1.09, 95%CI = 1.03–1.16), as well as leukemia (RR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.08–1.21) and melanoma (RR = 1.13, 95%CI = 1.03–1.24). In contrast, men with diabetes had decreased risks of cancers of the prostate (RR = 0.89, 95%CI = 0.87–0.91), brain (RR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.82–0.99), buccal cavity (RR = 0.85, 95%CI = 0.82–0.89), lung (RR = 0.79, 95%CI = 0.77–0.80), esophagus (RR = 0.77, 95%CI = 0.72–0.82), and larynx (RR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.71–0.80). These findings indicate that black and white men with diabetes are at significantly lower risk of total cancer and of two of the most common cancers among U.S. males; lung and prostate cancers. These decreased risks were offset, however, by increased risks of cancer at several sites. Hyperinsulinemia may explain the increased risks of the digestive cancers, while lower testosterone levels, in the case of prostate cancer, and higher BMI, in the case of lung cancer, may explain the decreased risks of those tumors.
Optimizacija ekstrakcije polifenolnih spojeva iz pokožice komine grožđa Cabernet sauvignon primjenom mikrovalova

Grape pomace in the valuable byproduct obtained during wine production, highly rich in bioactive compounds. The aim of this research was to examine the effect of solvent polarity (60 % and 100 % methanol), solvent acidity (0 % and 1 % HCl) and the process temperature (45 and 60 ˚C), on the microwave-assisted extraction of polyphenolic compounds from Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L.) grape skin pomace, and the antioxidant activity of the obtained extracts. Polyphenolic content of extracts was determined by spectrophotometry. Content of free anthocyanins was determined by HPLC, while antioxidant capacity of extract was determined by fluorimetry (ORAC). Optimal conditions in microwave-assisted extraction of total polyphenols, total tannins, total flavonols and total hydroxycinnamic acids as well for maintaining antioxidant activity showed to be 100 % methanol with the addition of 1 % HCl and temperature of 60 °C during 16 min.
The Healthy Schools Healthy Families Program - Physical Activity Integration Into Elementary Schools In New York City

Increasing physical activity delivers proven results in combating childhood obesity. The high prevalence of childhood obesity and the lack of effective treatment mandate a prevention approach that targets all children. School based programming is an important tool to reach all children. Healthy Schools Healthy Families (HSHF) partnered with teachers, community groups and school leadership to increase physical activity during school hours, targeting all children in seven low resource inner city schools. The intervention targeted 5000 children in seven inner city schools in New York City. Results are reported from 2009-2010. A multi-faceted approach targeted in-class, recess and gym time with programming varying from school to school, tailored to specific school needs. Minutes of physical activity were tracked using a classroom-based logging system, with incentives provided to teachers, school-aides and schools documenting the most activity. HSHF schools averaged 110.8 minutes/week/class with significant variation between schools. HSHF successfully generated by, at all school levels, with 2010 data reaching the CDC recommendation for physical activity during school hours, despite severe resource limitations in program schools. HSHF offers a feasible model for increasing activity for all children in low-resource, inner city schools and for tracking results.
Livestock-associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Humans, Europe

To estimate the proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from humans that were sequence type (ST) 398, we surveyed 24 laboratories in 17 countries in Europe in 2007. Livestock-associated MRSA ST398 accounted for only a small proportion of MRSA isolates from humans; most were from the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Austria.
The case for transforming the geological survey knowledge system: where digital geoscience spatial models meet the semantic grid

As the Internet develops into a more powerful cyberinfrastructure (the Grid), Geological Survey knowledge will enter a framework where users assess its value by its relevance and evaluated reliability rather than its source, and artificial boundaries of place and discipline lose significance. Within Geological Surveys, much effort has been devoted to the development of the geological map through digital cartography. Consequently, a firm base already exists for more radical change to the geoscience knowledge system. The geoscience map is prepared from field records and structured data, and given meaning through the illustrated text narratives of map explanations. A more comprehensive view of this knowledge system is needed to gain the full benefits of the Grid. The flexibility of markup languages can link narrative to database, spatial modeling and semantic representations, and thereby combine the insights of human understanding with the power of computation. Rationalizing and extending the scope of existing ontologies (specifications of conceptualizations) to align their structure and vocabularies could provide a more comprehensive conceptual view. Thus, a major challenge for Geological Surveys will be to transform their knowledge system to conform to a new service-oriented infrastructure devised by others and its future evolution determined by users.
The time paradox of emergency medicine: Another inverted U curve

Time is integral to emergency medicine, but the importance of time is over‐rated. Media promotes a focus on time over suffering. Terms such as the ‘golden hour’ and ‘time is muscle’ are embedded into our language, but is language that corrupts thought. Time‐based metrics for ED quality measures focus on speed over accuracy, reflecting another inverted U curve in our system of care. We often fail to understand the importance of heterogeneity, and the heterogeneity of treatment effect, for example, sicker patients are more likely to benefit from the intervention, whereas less sick patients do not benefit but are more likely to be harmed. This highlights the importance of nuanced judgements. We need to get into the Goldilocks zone of the ‘just right’ balance between speed and accuracy. This essay challenges us to focus more on the suffering human subject, rather than on time‐based metrics that reflect our hope bias.
El Ni�o on the Devil's Staircase: Annual Subharmonic Steps to Chaos

The source of irregularity in El Ni�o, the large interannual climate variation of the Pacific ocean-atmosphere system, has remained elusive. Results from an El Ni�o model exhibit transition to chaos through a series of frequency-locked steps created by nonlinear resonance with the Earth's annual cycle. The overlapping of these resonances leads to the chaotic behavior. This transition scenario explains a number of climate model results and produces spectral characteristics consistent with currently available data.
Physiological anticoagulants and activated protein C resistance in childhood stroke

Immunological and functional protein S, protein C and antithrombin III levels and anticoagulant responses to activated protein C were measured in 24 patients with stroke in childhood. No hereditary deficiencies were found. The protein S levels in healthy controls of younger age did not differ from the adult levels. For optimal screening of protein S deficiency, measurements using functional as well as immunological assays are recommended. Appropriate criteria for the diagnosis of the deficiencies must be carefully applied if unnecessary anxiety and inappropriate treatment of children are to be avoided.
Identification of a gain-of-function STAT3 mutation (p.Y640F) in lymphocytic variant hypereosinophilic syndrome.

To the editor: Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by (1) persistent peripheral eosinophilia, (2) target organ pathology mediated by infiltrating eosinophils, and (3) the absence of known infectious or allergic causes of hypereosinophilia. [1][1],[2][
Growth and development of companies in the function mergers and acquisitions

The author affirms the need: Acquisitions and mergers as an element of growth and development of companies. This paper provides a critical overview of contributions to the given topic. The main objective of the paper is to identify the importance of strategic aspects of mergers and acquisitions as a growth strategy and company development. These two strategies enable companies to adapt to business and achieve greater financial effects of the present conditions of business as globalization requires.
Gray-world-assumption-based illuminant color estimation using color gamuts with high and low chroma

A new approach is proposed for estimating illuminant colors from color images under an unknown scene illuminant. The approach is based on a combination of a gray-world-assumption-based illuminant color estimation method and a method using color gamuts. The former method, which is one we had previously proposed, improved on the original method that hypothesizes that the average of all the object colors in a scene is achromatic. Since the original method estimates scene illuminant colors by calculating the average of all the image pixel values, its estimations are incorrect when certain image colors are dominant. Our previous method improves on it by choosing several colors on the basis of an opponent-color property, which is that the average color of opponent colors is achromatic, instead of using all colors. However, it cannot estimate illuminant colors when there are only a few image colors or when the image colors are unevenly distributed in local areas in the color space. The approach we propose in this paper combines our previous method and one using high chroma and low chroma gamuts, which makes it possible to find colors that satisfy the gray world assumption. High chroma gamuts are used for adding appropriate colors to the original image and low chroma gamuts are used for narrowing down illuminant color possibilities. Experimental results obtained using actual images show that even if the image colors are localized in a certain area in the color space, the illuminant colors are accurately estimated, with smaller estimation error average than that generated in the conventional method.