Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced conformational flexibility of the histone-like (HU) protein from Mycoplasma gallisepticum

The histone-like (HU) protein is one of the major nucleoid-associated proteins involved in DNA supercoiling and compaction into bacterial nucleoid as well as in all DNA-dependent transactions. This small positively charged dimeric protein binds DNA in a non-sequence specific manner promoting DNA super-structures. The majority of HU proteins are highly conserved among bacteria; however, HU protein from Mycoplasma gallisepticum (HUMgal) has multiple amino acid substitutions in the most conserved regions, which are believed to contribute to its specificity to DNA targets unusual for canonical HU proteins. In this work, we studied the structural dynamic properties of the HUMgal dimer by NMR spectroscopy and MD simulations. The obtained all-atom model displays compliance with the NMR data and confirms the heterogeneous backbone flexibility of HUMgal. We found that HUMgal, being folded into a dimeric conformation typical for HU proteins, has a labile α-helical body with protruded β-stranded arms forming DNA-binding domain that are highly flexible in the absence of DNA. The amino acid substitutions in conserved regions of the protein are likely to affect the conformational lability of the HUMgal dimer that can be responsible for complex functional behavior of HUMgal in vivo, e.g. facilitating its spatial adaptation to non-canonical DNA-targets.
JSWof 5.5 MA/cm2 and RA of 5.2-Ω · μm2 STT-MRAM Technology for LLC Application

Due to the complexity of device processing, the trade-off between yield and area has resulted in diminishing rate of scaling for the high-density static random access memory (SRAM) cell at advanced CMOS nodes. An introduction of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and multipatterning has added additional cost to technology in order to realize 3-D device structure and ultrascaled metal routing. In this era, spin-transfer torque (STT)-MRAM technology can provide an alternative to high-density SRAM and for the last level cache (LLC) applications. In this article, we discuss the memory design and technology tradeoff to enable the STT-MRAM as a viable option. We have realized the technology over 300-mm wafer, measuring 1 million samples to build a SPICE model for circuit simulation. Occupying up to 83.3% of an area that of SRAM macro has been designed and simulated for the scaled 5-nm CMOS node. The simulated MRAM macro shows the best read and write access time of 3.1 and 6.2 ns, respectively. Magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) pillar of 38-nm diameter is realized at 90-nm pitch, measuring resistance area (RA) of 5.2-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Omega \cdot \mu \text{m}^{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${J}_{sw}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of 5.5 MA/cm<sup>2</sup> with improved <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Delta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>avg of 70, and breakdown voltage of 0.99 V. The energy comparison shows increasing gains versus SRAM for the increasing cache sizes crossing over at of 0.3 and 4 MB for the single-cycle read and write operations, respectively.
The PACT domain, a conserved centrosomal targeting motif in the coiled‐coil proteins AKAP450 and pericentrin

AKAP450 (also known as AKAP350, CG‐NAP or Hyperion) and pericentrin are large coiled‐coil proteins found in mammalian centrosomes that serve to recruit structural and regulatory components including dynein and protein kinase A. We find that these proteins share a well conserved 90 amino acid domain near their C‐termini that is also found in coiled‐coil proteins of unknown function from Drosophila and fission yeast. Fusion of the C‐terminal region from either protein to a reporter protein confers a centrosomal localization, and overexpression of the domain from AKAP450 displaces endogenous pericentrin, suggesting recruitment to a shared site. When isolated from transfected cells the C‐terminal domain of AKAP450 was associated with calmodulin, suggesting that this protein could contribute to centrosome assembly.
Data and safety monitoring in social behavioral intervention trials: the REACH II experience

Background Psychosocial and behavioral interventions trials targeting a broad range of complex social and behavioral problems such as smoking, obesity and family caregiving have proliferated in the past 30 years. At the same time the use of Data and Safety Monitoring Boards (DSMBs) to monitor the progress and quality of intervention trials and the safety of study participants has increased substantially. Most of the existing literature and guidelines for safety monitoring and reporting of adverse events focuses on medical interventions. Consequently, there is little guidance for investigators conducting social and behavior trials. Purpose This paper summarizes how issues associated with safety monitoring and adverse event reporting were handled in the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH II) program, a multi-site randomized clinical trial, funded by the National Institutes on Aging (NIA) and the National Institutes of Nursing Research (NINR), that tested the efficacy of a multicomponent social/behavioral intervention for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease. Methods A task force was formed to define adverse events for the trial and protocols for reporting and resolving events that occurred. The task force conducted a review of existing polices and protocols for data and safety monitoring and adverse event reporting and identified potential risks particular to the study population. An informal survey regarding data and safety monitoring procedures with investigators on psychosocial intervention trials was also conducted. Results Two categories of events were defined for both caregivers and patients; adverse events and safety alerts. A distinction was also made between events detected at baseline assessment and those detected post-randomization. Standardized protocols were also developed for the reporting and resolution of events that occurred and training of study personnel. Results from the informal survey indicated wide variability in practices for data safety and monitoring across psychosocial intervention trials. Conclusions Overall, the REACH II experience demonstrates that existing guidelines regarding safety monitoring and adverse event reporting pose unique challenges for social/behavioral intervention trials. Challenges encountered in the REACH II program included defining and classifying adverse events, defining “resolution” of adverse events and attributing causes for events that occurred. These challenges are highlighted and recommendations for addressing them in future studies are discussed.
Book Review: Activity-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity: Insights from Neuromuscular Junctions

Experience-dependent editing shapes synaptic connections throughout the developing nervous system, but the underlying cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. A useful model synapse for addressing these mechanisms is the neuromuscular junction, the connection between spinal motor neurons and skeletal muscle fibers. Here the authors review current ideas about the role of activity in editing neuromuscular synaptic connections. A variety of new tools are being used to address some unanswered questions in vivo and in vitro. Understanding activity-dependent plasticity at developing neuromuscular synapses may reveal how neural circuits in the central nervous system are altered by experience throughout life.
Image segmentation using fractal coding

Applying fractal coding to image segmentation was attempted as its new application. The encoding method is the same as the conventional fractal coding method, and the fractal-code is used for image segmentation. An image can be segmented by calculating basins on a dynamical system parametrized by the fractal-code. It is shown that the new method has the ability to segment regions that have fine pixel-patterns as masses.
Human in vitro oocyte maturation is not associated with increased imprinting error rates at LIT1, SNRPN, PEG3 and GTL2.

STUDY QUESTION Does in vitro maturation (IVM) of cumulus-enclosed germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes retrieved from small antral follicles in minimally stimulated cycles without an ovulatory hCG dose induce imprinting errors at LIT1, SNRPN, PEG3 and GTL2 in human oocytes? SUMMARY ANSWER There is no significant increase in imprinting mutations at LIT1, SNRPN, PEG3 and GTL2 after IVM of cumulus-enclosed GV oocytes from small antral follicles in minimally stimulated cycles without hCG priming. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Animal models have generally demonstrated correct methylation imprint establishment for in vitro grown and matured oocytes. For human IVM, well-designed studies allowing conclusions on imprint establishment are currently not available. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Immature oocyte-cumulus complexes from 2 to 9 mm follicles were retrieved in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) subjects in minimally stimulated cycles without hCG priming and matured in vitro. In vivo grown oocytes were retrieved after conventional ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI or after ovulation induction. Imprinting error rates at three maternally methylated (LIT1, SNRPN and PEG3) and one paternally methylated (GTL2) imprinted genes were compared in 71 in vitro and 38 in vivo matured oocytes. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The limiting dilution bisulfite sequencing technique was applied, allowing increased sensitivity based on multiplex PCR for the imprinted genes and the inclusion of non-imprinted marker genes for cumulus cell DNA contamination. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In vitro as well as in vivo matured oocytes showed only a few abnormal alleles, consistent with epimutations. The abnormalities were more frequent in immature than in mature oocytes for both groups, although no significant difference was reached. There was no statistically significant increase in imprinting errors in IVM oocytes. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This single cell methylation analysis was restricted to a number of well-selected imprinted genes. Genome-wide methylation analysis of single human oocytes is currently not possible. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS IVM is a patient-friendly alternative to conventional ovarian stimulation in PCOS patients and is associated with reduced gonadotrophin costs and avoidance of OHSS. The results of this study show for the first time that optimized human IVM procedures have no significant effects on the establishment of maternal DNA methylation patterns at LIT1, SNRPN, PEG3 and GTL2. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS This study was supported by research funds from Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie (IWT-TBM 110680), Wetenschappelijk Fonds Willy Gepts (WFWG 2011) and German Research Foundation (HA 1374/12-2). There are no competing interests.
Biographical and clinical variables related to frequent versus infrequent visits by students to a university counseling and mental health service.

METHOD. 12 S e t t i n g . 12 M a t e r i a l s . 14 Procedure . 15 RESULTS. • • • • 18 D I S C U S S I O N . 26 Implications of the present study . 30 Implications for further research . 33 SUMMARY. 35 R E F E R E N C E S . 37 A P P E N D I C E S . 43
Heterogeneous Multi-core Architectures

: Transistor count continues to increase for silicon devices following Moore’s Law. But the failure of Den-nard scaling has brought the computing community to a crossroad where power has become the major limiting factor. Thus future chips can have many cores; but only a fraction of them can be switched on at any point in time. This dark silicon era, where signiﬁcant fraction of the chip real estate remains dark, has necessitated a fundamental re-thinking in architectural designs. In this context, heterogeneous multi-core architectures combining functionality and performance-wise divergent mix of processing cores (CPU, GPU, special-purpose accelerators, and reconﬁgurable computing) o ﬀ er a promising option. Heterogeneous multi-cores can potentially provide energy-e ﬃ cient computation as only the cores most suitable for the current computation need to be switched on. This article presents an overview of the state-of-the-art in heterogeneous multi-core landscape.
LARGE EDDY SIMULATION OF TURBULENT COMBUSTION Principle Investigator :

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing Instrucuu-,i o . gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Department of Defense, Executive Services and Communications Directorate (0704-0188). Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ORGANIZATION. 1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY) 2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED (From To) 15-03-2006 Final Performance Report 10-01-2002 10-01-2005 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER (U) Large Eddy Simulation of Turbulent Combustion
Time-constrained clustering for segmentation of video into story units

Many video programs have story structures that can be recognized through the clustering of video contents based on low-level visual primitives, and the analysis of high level structures imposed by temporal arrangement of composing elements. In this paper time-constrained clustering of video shots is proposed to collapse visually similar and temporally local shots into a compact structure. We show that the proposed clustering formulations, when incorporated into the scene transition graph framework, allows the automatic segmentation of scenes and story units that cannot be achieved by existing shot boundary detection schemes. The proposed method is able to decompose video into meaningful hierarchies and provide compact representations that reflect the flow of story, thus offering efficient browsing and organization of video.
Mutants of Escherichia coli deficient in the fermentative lactate dehydrogenase

Mutants of Escherichia coli deficient in the fermentative NAD-linked lactate dehydrogenase (ldh) have been isolated. These mutants showed no growth defects under anaerobic conditions unless present together with a defect in pyruvate formate lyase (pfl). Double mutants (pfl ldh) were unable to grow anaerobically on glucose or other sugars even when supplemented with acetate, whereas pfl mutants can do so. The ldh mutation was found to map at 30.5 min on the E. coli chromosome. The ldh mutant FMJ39 showed no detectable lactate dehydrogenase activity and produced no lactic acid from glucose under anaerobic conditions as estimated by in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. We also found that in wild-type strains the fermentative lactate dehydrogenase was conjointly induced by anaerobic conditions and an acidic pH. Despite previous findings that phosphate concentrations affect the proportion of lactic acid produced during fermentation, we were unable to find any intrinsic effect of phosphate on lactate dehydrogenase activity, apart from the buffering effect of this ion.
Comparação de parâmetros temporais e cinéticos da caminhada entre indivíduos jovens, idosas caidoras e não caidoras Comparison of temporal and kinetic walking parameters among young people and falling and non-falling elderly persons

Objective: Comparison of the biomechanical parameters (spatiotemporal and kinetic) during walking of young people, falling, and non-falling elderly persons. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed of 29 individuals divided into three groups: young persons (n=10); falling elderly individuals (n=7) and non-falling individuals (n=12). Gait analysis was performed based on the recording of three walking gait cycles along an 8 meter platform, which was attached to a force plate with a recording frequency of 200
Children With Anorectal Malformations, Hirschsprung Disease, and Their Siblings: Proxy Reports and Self-Reports

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare parent proxy reports with that of self-reports of children with anorectal malformations (ARMs) or Hirschsprung disease (HD) and healthy siblings and thereafter was examine whether these comparisons differed between patients and their siblings. Methods: Parents (n = 98) of either children with ARM (n = 44) or HD (n = 54) and a healthy sibling (n = 98) recruited from the 6 Dutch pediatric surgical centers and from the ARM and HD patient societies were included in this cross-sectional multilevel study. Agreement between child self-reports and parent proxy reports was compared through mean differences and through (intraclass) correlations. We conducted multilevel analyses to take dependencies between assessments within families into account. Results: All of the children (children with ARM or HD and their siblings) reported more pain and symptoms than their parents reported. We also found that only children with ARM or HD reported less positive emotions than their parents. Furthermore, higher correlations were found between parent proxy reports and patient-self reports than between parent proxy reports and sibling self-reports on cognitive functioning and social interaction. Conclusions: Parents tend to overestimate the physical functioning of both their ill and healthy children, and overestimate the emotional functioning of only their children with ARM or HD. Furthermore, children with ARM or HD and parents agree more on health-related quality of life domains than healthy children and parents.
High Serum Tryptase Value in Massive Acute Myocardial Infarction with Ventricular Arrhythmia Exortion in a Cocaine Abuser

A 38-year-old cocaine abuser was admitted to the Emergency Department with a one hour history of precordial chest pain associated with shortness of breath and extreme discomfort. On admission his blood pressure was 90/60 mmHg, the resting 12-lead ECG showed ventricular tachycardia at about 300 beats per minute, and oxygen saturation was 86% in room air. After electrical cardioversion, the 12-lead ECG revealed sinusal rhythm and a significative ST segment elevation in leads I, aVL and V1-V6, that was about 0.5 mV in leads I and aVL and more than 1 mV in leads V2, V3 and V4. Laboratory determinations showed elevated creatine-chinase MB (CK-MB) and troponin I. An emergency coronary angiogram was normal. Cocaine use is a major cause of acute myocardial infarction in patients with normal epicardial coronary arteries but the exact mechanism still remains unclear. We hypothesize a non-IgE mediated mast-cell activation, with a direct action played by cocaine, and consequent massive expression of several factors effecting the microcirculatory system, including pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Our hypothesis is supported by an elevated serum tryptase levels in the patient.
Charge instabilities and topological phases in the extended Hubbard model on the honeycomb lattice with enlarged unit cell

This research was supported in part by the Spanish MECD grants FIS2011-23713, FIS2011-29689, PIB2010BZ-00512. F. de J. acknowledges support from the “Programa Nacional de Movilidad de Recursos Humanos” (Spanish MECD).
Surgical site infections and the surgical care improvement project (SCIP): evolution of national quality measures.

BACKGROUND Surgical site infection (SSI) continues to be a common if often times preventable infection. Considerable patient morbidity and economic cost are the consequences. METHODS Review of the pertinent English-language literature. RESULTS The National Surgical Infection Prevention (SIP) Project was an initiative sponsored jointly by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to decrease the incidence of SSI in major surgical procedures. Three performance measures were developed to improve the timing of antibiotic administration and the selection of the drug and to reduce needless postoperative administration of antibiotics. The success of SIP led to the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP), which is expanding performance measures in the area of prevention of SSI, and also is undertaking preventive measures against postoperative venous thromboembolism and cardiac events. Federal legislation has required hospitals to report rates of compliance with many of these process measures. CONCLUSIONS Surgeons must use all documented strategies to prevent SSIs.
The prognostic significance of leukemic cells clearance kinetics evaluation during the initial course of induction therapy with HAD (homoharringtonine, cytosine arabinoside, daunorubicin) in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia

The impact of the percentage of residual leukemic cells (RLCs) at the end of first course of induction chemotherapy (T1) or during aplasia (T2) on complete remission (CR) rate, disease‐free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were retrospectively analyzed in 72 cases of de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with HAD (homoharringtonine, cytosine arabinoside, and daunorubicin) regimen. The patients were separated into two subgroups by a cutoff of 10% bone marrow leukemic cells at T1 or T2 time point. The CR rate, DFS, and OS were significantly different between the two groups. We further confirmed that the percentage of RLCs at T1 or T2 is an independent prognostic factor of AML. Am. J. Hematol. , 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Binary-coded extremal optimization based fractional-order frequency control of an islanded microgrid

Fractional order control theories have attracted increasing attentions recently due to their better control performance than traditional integer-order controllers, but there are few research works concerning their applications of power systems and power converters. This paper presents a novel binary-coded extremal optimization (BCEO) based fractional-order frequency control method for an islanded microgrid. The basic idea behind the proposed method is using an optimal fractional-order PID (FOPID) controller optimized by a simple but efficiency BCEO algorithm for the frequency control of an islanded microgrid. The superiority of the proposed BCEO-FOPID method to other reported binary-coded genetic algorithm based FOPID/PID, particle swarm optimization based fuzzy FOPID and BCEO based PID algorithms is demonstrated by the simulation results on a typical islanded microgrid.
Divergence between strength indicators in packaging and cigarette engineering: a case study of Marlboro varieties in Australia and the USA

Objectives To investigate how the tobacco industry is adapting to regulatory action in accordance with provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that targets misleading packaging and labelling. To relate the packaging and labelling of new cigarette varieties to their construction and performance. Methods The principal design features and tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide yields of the Marlboro ‘brand family’ in Australia were measured and compared with those of the US equivalents. Results Marlboro Red and Blue/Medium, could not be differentiated in preliminary tests in Australia, but were different in the USA. However, yield testing showed Marlboro Blue/Medium did not have lower tar and nicotine yields in either country, indeed being higher in Australia. Conclusions Colour can be used to market cigarettes as ‘milder’, independently of ISO yields and ‘Light’/’Mild’ descriptors. Banning of ‘Light’ and ‘Mild’ brand descriptors may be inadequate to end belief in less harmful cigarettes so long as the tobacco industry remains free to engineer ‘mildness’ and to use colours, other descriptors and design features to characterise varieties it wants to market as ‘milder’.