Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of commercially-available RNA extraction methods for effective bacterial RNA isolation from milk spiked samples

Nucleic-acid based methods for bacterial identification are extremely useful in diagnostic applications due to their specificity and sensitivity. However, they require an optimal purification of the target molecules. As part of the development of a new diagnostic method for the detection of bacterial RNA in cow milk, we have compared four commercially available RNA extraction kits for the isolation of bacterial RNA from spiked UHT milk samples. The kits were compared in terms of extraction efficiency and RNA purity using two bacterial species, the Gram negative Escherichia coli and the Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus . Two kits are based in silica-matrix extraction, and the other two in the guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction. In our hands, the RNeasy Protect Bacteria Mini kit from QIAGEN was the best performing in terms of RNA yield, quality, reproducibility and consumable needs, under the conditions here described.
Cardiovascular , Pulmonary , and Renal Pathology Adverse Host Factors Exacerbate Occult HIV-Associated Nephropathy

In the present study, we hypothesized that HIV-1–induced occult HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) would become apparent in the presence of adverse host factors. To test our hypothesis, Vpr mice (which display doxycycline-dependent Vpr expression in podocytes) with two, three, and four copies of the angiotensinogen (Agt) gene (Vpr-Agt-2, Vpr-Agt-3, and Vpr-Agt-4) were administered doxycycline for 3 weeks (to develop clinically occult HIVAN) followed by doxycycline-free water during the next 3 weeks. Subsequently, renal biomarkers were measured, and kidneys were harvested for renal histology. Vpr-Agt-2 developed neither proteinuria nor elevated blood pressure, and displayed minimal glomerular and tubular lesions only, without any microcyst formation. Vpr-Agt-3 showed mild glomerular and tubular lesions and microcyst formation, whereas Vpr-Agt-4 showed moderate proteinuria, hypertension, glomerular sclerosis, tubular dilation, microcysts, and expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition markers. Vpr-Agt-4 not only displayed enhanced renal tissue expression of Agt, renin, and angiotensin-converting enzyme, but also had higher renal tissue concentrations of angiotensin II. Moreover, renal cells in Vpr-Agt-4 showed enhanced expression of transforming growth factor, connective tissue growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor. These findings indicate that adverse host factors, such as the activation of the renin-angiotensin system, promote the progression of occult HIVAN to apparent HIVAN. (Am J Pathol 2011, 179:1681–1692; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.06.013)
Myristic acid, a rare fatty acid, is the lipid attached to the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus and its cellular homolog

The lipid bound to p60src, the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus, has been identified by gas and thin-layer chromatography as the 14-carbon saturated fatty acid, myristic acid. The protein can be labeled biosynthetically with either [3H]myristic acid or [3H]palmitic acid. Incorporation of [3H]myristic acid was noticeably greater than incorporation of [3H]palmitic acid. All of the [3H]myristic acid-derived label in p60src was present as myristic acid. In contrast, none of the radioactivity derived from [3H]palmitic acid was recovered as palmitic acid. Instead, all 3H incorporated into p60src from [3H]palmitic acid arose by metabolism to myristic acid. The cellular tyrosine kinase, p60c-src also contains myristic acid. By comparison of the extent of myristylation of p60v-src with that of the Moloney murine leukemia virus structural protein precursor, Pr65gag, we estimate that greater than 80% of the molecules of p60v-src contain one molecule of this fatty acid. Myristylation is a rare form of protein modification. p60v-src contains 10 to 40% of the myristic acid bound to protein in cells transformed by Rous sarcoma virus and is easily identified in total cell lysates when [3H]myristic acid-labeled proteins are separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparison of the amount of [3H]myristic acid-labeled p60src in total cell lysates and in immunoprecipitates suggests that immunoprecipitation with rabbit anti-Rous sarcoma virus tumor sera detects ca. 25% of the p60src present in cells.
On the use of pitch predictors with high temporal resolution

The use of pitch predictors in linear predictive coding systems is an efficient way to represent periodicity in the speech signal. Typically, the predictor is described by one parameter representing the delay in samples and 1 to 3 predictor coefficients can provide interpolation for periodicities that are not a multiple of the sampling interval and allow for a frequency-dependent gain. The authors describe a first-order pitch predictor whose delay is specified as an integer number of samples plus a fraction of a sample at the current sampling frequency. This realization has a better performance than conventional multiple coefficient predictors and leads to more efficient coding of the predictor parameters. >
A Single Catalytically Active Subunit in the Multimeric Sulfolobus shibatae CCA-adding Enzyme Can Carry Out All Three Steps of CCA Addition*

The CCA-adding enzyme ATP(CTP):tRNA nucleotidyltransferase builds and repairs the 3′-terminal CCA sequence of tRNA. Although this unusual RNA polymerase has no nucleic acid template, it can construct the CCA sequence one nucleotide at a time using CTP and ATP as substrates. We found previously that tRNA does not translocate along the enzyme during CCA addition (Yue, D., Weiner, A. M., and Maizels, N. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 29693-29700) and that a single nucleotidyltransferase motif adds all three nucleotides (Shi, P.-Y., Maizels, N., and Weiner, A. M. (1998) EMBO J. 17, 3197-3206). Intriguingly, the CCA-adding enzyme from the archaeon Sulfolobus shibatae is a homodimer that forms a tetramer upon binding two tRNAs. We therefore asked whether the active form of the S. shibatae enzyme might have two quasi-equivalent active sites, one adding CTP and the other ATP. Using an intersubunit complementation approach, we demonstrate that the dimer is active and that a single catalytically active subunit can carry out all three steps of CCA addition. We also locate one UV light-induced tRNA cross-link on the enzyme structure and provide evidence suggesting the location of another. Our data rule out shuttling models in which the 3′-end of the tRNA shuttles from one quasi-equivalent active site to another, demonstrate that tRNA-induced tetramerization is not required for CCA addition, and support a role for the tail domain of the enzyme in tRNA binding.
The Influence Of Others' Goals On Young Children's Sharing Decisions

Prosociality encompasses a variety of actions aimed at benefitting another person, (e.g., Brownell, 2013; Martin & Olson, 2015; Thompson & Newton, 2013). One category of prosocial behaviors is sharing, which uniquely requires relinquishing an object to alleviate another person’s need (Pettygrove, Hammond, Karahuta, Waugh, & Brownell, 2013). While past research has shown that children may have some innate predisposition towards prosociality (e.g., Killen & de Waal, 2000; Warneken & Tomasello, 2009b), there are also situational influences that may encourage such behaviors (e.g., Martin & Olson, 2015). The current three studies investigate preschoolers’ and early elementary school children’s ability to consider another person’s goal when distributing resources in a sharing scenario for others and themselves. In Study 1, participants were presented with either a concrete or non-specific goal and asked to distribute resources between two characters. By age 5, children varied their sharing behaviors based on the goal presented to them, while 3and 4-year-olds prioritized equity across conditions. Study 2 expanded on these findings, asking children to distribute their own resources with another character. Children of all ages showed a preference for equity in this study, choosing to treat themselves and a partner equally. Finally, Study 3 investigated children’s sensitivity to another’s proximity to a goal. By age 5, children varied their distribution behaviors dependent upon the goal completion presented to them, preferring to donate more to someone whose goal was nearer completion. Taken together, these studies provide a first step towards a better understanding of one potential motivation behind children’s distribution and sharing behaviors. INDEX WORDS: Sharing, Distributions, Goals, Equity, Goal proximity, Prosociality THE INFUENCE OF OTHERS’ GOALS ON YOUNG CHIDLREN’S SHARING DECISIONS
Water rights, transactions costs and water policy reform

While the reform of water access rights in the Murray Darling Basin has been given a high priority by both the Commonwealth and state governments, the progress of reform over the past decade has been slow. One impediment to the reform process has been the lack of a clear framework to identify the inherent problems with existing water property rights, and to put forward an operational vision of the required institutional reforms needed to reap the greatest return from the basin’s water resources.
A General Solution for Iso-Disparity Layers and Correspondence Field Model for Stereo Systems

Estimation of localization error and selection of system parameters are the key factors in evaluation of visual 3-D systems. Iso-disparity layers and correspondence field are recently introduced to present a graphical model for space sampling in general 3-D systems. The correspondence field describes the spatial topology of the intersecting rays of cameras, arranged in a number of layers or surfaces with same disparity values, referred as iso-disparity layers. This paper develops a mathematical framework to investigate the geometrical variations of these layers with respect to camera intrinsic and extrinsic parameters. It will be demonstrated that the layers in their general form appear as a set of quadric surfaces, where the coefficients of these quadrics depend on system parameters. The distance between the iso-disparity layers due to the quantization process is suggested as a measure of uncertainty and can be considered as a criterion for appropriate selection of parameters, such as focal length, position, and orientation of cameras for the system to achieve desirable precision. Here, we use an analytical solution to calculate the orthogonal distance between the two successive iso-disparity layers. These distances are representatives of depth uncertainty. Finally, we have simulated our model and the results verify that the total average error is less than 2%.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Human Cytomegalovirus Reprograms Monocyte Differentiation toward an M1 Macrophage

Monocytes are primary targets for human CMV (HCMV) infection and are proposed to be responsible for hematogenous dissemination of the virus. Monocytes acquire different functional traits during polarization to the classical proinflammatory M1 macrophage or the alternative antiinflammatory M2 macrophage. We hypothesized that HCMV induced a proinflammatory M1 macrophage following infection to promote viral dissemination because, biologically, a proinflammatory state provides the tools to drive infected monocytes from the blood into the tissue. To test this hypothesis of monocyte conversion from a normal quiescent phenotype to an inflammatory phenotype, we used Affymetrix Microarray to acquire a transcriptional profile of infected monocytes at a time point our data emphasized is a key temporal regulatory point following infection. We found that HCMV significantly up-regulated 583 (5.2%) of the total genes and down-regulated 621 (5.5%) of the total genes ≥1.5-fold at 4 h postinfection. Further ontology analysis revealed that genes implicated in classical M1 macrophage activation were stimulated by HCMV infection. We found that 65% of genes strictly associated with M1 polarization were up-regulated, while only 4% of genes solely associated with M2 polarization were up-regulated. Analysis of the monocyte chemokinome at the transcriptional level showed that 44% of M1 and 33% of M2 macrophage chemokines were up-regulated. Proteomic analysis using chemokine Ab arrays confirmed the secretion of these chemotactic proteins from HCMV-infected monocytes. Overall, the results identify that the HCMV-infected monocyte transcriptome displayed a unique M1/M2 polarization signature that was skewed toward the classical M1 activation phenotype.
Job Creation for Full Employment in Nigeria

This study was embarked upon with a view to determining the extent to which federal government employment policies had proved effective for achieving full employment in Nigeria. It was designed essentially as a descriptive survey. Data were sourced from National Bureau of Statistics and the CBN. Data were analyzed using time series and Pearson’s r. Results indicate that (1) Job creation strategies did not contribute significantly to total employment in Nigeria (2) FG employment policies were not effective for creating jobs (3) Job creation in Nigeria was susceptible to trade cycle (4) NEEDS was a veritable tool for employment generation in Nigeria. Based on the abovestated findings, it was concluded that employment policies in Nigeria were yet to be adapted to the economic realities in the country’s labour market.
Identifying the Key Success Factors of Innovation for Improving the New Product Development Process

This chapter is concerned with the study of success factors identification in product innovation. The critical success factors are identified on the basis of project management software database and questionnaires concerning communication and quality management in new product development. The model of measuring innovation includes the indicators connected with the fields such as research and development, purchasing and materials management, manufacturing, sales and marketing, and communication. The proposed methodology enables merger of objective indices and subjective judgments with the use of fuzzy logic. In order to identify the relationships between product success and project environment parameters, the artificial neural networks are used.
The impact of the brand experience on Purchase Intentions (Case study West and Central branches of Tejarat Bank)

Present research aims to Investigating The impact of the brand experience on Purchase Intentions in West and Central branches of Tejarat Bank. Required information was adapted by the questionnaire-based on research model and was responded by 384 West and Central branches of Tejarat Bank customers. The Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data and reliability through Cronbach's alpha, which was 0.87 had been measured. The result of this study confirmed that Brand Experience has effect on Brand Credibility, Brand Attitude and CBBE [1] . Brand Attitude has effect on CBBE and Purchase Intentions. But Brand Credibility has no effect on Brand Attitude and CBBE. At the end based on research findings recommendations were presented. [1] Consumer Based Brand Equity
Characterization of a differential immunoscreen epitope of Plasmodium falciparum using combinatorial agents

A differential serological screening of a λgt11 cDNA expression library has identified several clones, which react exclusively to sera samples from persons clinically immune to malaria but not to acute malaria patient sera. One such clone, IPf9, has a 315‐bp cDNA insert, which was found to be conserved in different strains of the human and rodent malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei, respectively. The induced expression product of IPf9 was used to generate polyclonal sera in rabbits. The IPf9 expression product was also screened with phage surface display combinatorial libraries to isolate reagents that specifically bound to the IPf9 product. The polyclonal antisera and the combinatorial reagents recognized a 50‐kDa protein from P. falciparum, and a 53‐kDa product from P. berghei. Immunofluorescence studies using asexual and sexual stages of P. falciparum showed the protein to be present within the parasite in each of the asexual and sexual stages. The combinatorial reagents showed a partial inhibition in the growth of P. falciparum in vitro. Mice infected with the P. berghei showed the presence of T‐cells that exhibited lymphoproliferation when stimulated with the IPf9 protein. It is suggested that IPf9 protein is a conserved protein epitope, and may be relevant for a protective immune response to malaria.
Digital Products on the Web: Pricing Issues and Revenue Models

Products that exist in digital form can be bought, sold, and, in some cases, delivered, online. The pricing issues that arise in the sale of these products are different from those that sellers face when pricing physical goods and can lead to interesting opportunities for devising revenue models. The success of revenue models for companies that sell digital products depend on the nature of the product, the characteristics of the buyers, and the traditional practices in the industry. This chapter examines the nature of digital products, their pricing issues, and the efficacy of various revenue models that have been implemented by companies that deal in digital products.
Reducing blood utilization by implementation of a type-and-screen transfusion policy a single-institution experience.

OBJECTIVES The Blood Utilization Committee implemented a standardized protocol for the preoperative blood order for cardiac patients. The aim of our study was to assess the improvement in blood utilization using the crossmatch to transfusion ratio (C:T). METHODS Four months of retrospective data were collected, which included all RBC crossmatch requests and all RBC units transfused. Similar data were gathered for the period of the intervention. The difference in C:T was calculated. RESULTS The retrospective group had 166 patients for whom blood products were ordered. There were 560 crossmatch requests and 237 transfused RBC units with a C:T of 2.36. The prospective group had 127 patients with 297 crossmatch requests, 190 transfused units, and a C:T of 1.56. There was a statistically significant difference in the C:T. The cost difference was $12,244.00. CONCLUSIONS Implementing exact guidelines, with the introduction of a type-and-screen concept, allowed more efficient blood usage.
Barriers and Challenges to Telecardiology Adoption in Malaysia Context

Mainly in infrastructure deficient communities, telecardiology is considered as a complement to insufficient cardiac care. Telecardiology can reduce travelling and waiting time, enables information sharing in shorter time and facilitate care in rural and remote areas. A qualitative study examined the perspectives of health care providers: cardiologist and general physician and health care service receivers: patient and public towards telecardiology adoption. The barriers in telecardiology adoption were identified in this paper. It includes practicality of telecardiology, the need of education for staffs and administrators, ease of use, preferred face-to-face consultation, cost and confidentiality. Improvements can be done by the implementers based on this study in order to promote telecardiology successfully in Malaysia.
Apoptosis—an introduction

Apoptosis has become a major research area in the biomedical sciences. As there are more than 13,000 papers published annually on the topic, it is impossible to keep track on all developments in the area. The individual aspects of molecular control of apoptosis are well reviewed, but more general, introductory recent reviews into the field are lacking. This review aims to give a brief overview of the field, providing an introduction into the literature for students and newcomers; as it is written for the un‐initiated, wherever possible, review articles will be cited rather than original papers. BioEssays 25:888–896, 2003. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Currency strategies and their risk factors

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Kv1.3: a multifunctional channel with many pathological implications

Ion channels are transmembrane proteins that form aqueous pores driving ions through the plasma membrane in favor of an electrochemical gradient. Thus, voltage-dependent potassium channels (Kv) control the resting membrane potential and action potential propagation in nerve and muscle while also participating in proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis [1]. These channels, which include 12 different Kv families, form tetramers. The Kv1 family members generate both outward delayed rectifier and rapidly inactivating currents. This family, containing up to eight isoforms (Kv1.1-Kv1.8), includes Kv1.3, which shows specific electrophysiological properties such as C-type and cumulative inactivation. Kv1.3 is widely distributed throughout the whole body, but it is highly expressed in both nervous and immune system. Additionally, Kv1.3 participates in the insulin-dependent signaling pathway, as well as physiologic and neoplastic cell proliferation [2]. Although Kv1.3 forms functional channels that recapitulate physiological currents, the activity and trafficking of those channels can be modified by interaction with other proteins. Thus, Kv1.3 may form heteromeric complexes with other members of the Shaker family like Kv1.5 [2]. In addition, regulatory subunits such as KCNE4 also modulate the Kv1.3 channel [3]. Additionally, other ancillary proteins, such as Caveolin or PDS-95, interact with Kv1.3, collaborating to further increase the repertoire of characteristics of the channel. All these interactions form the so-called Kv1.3 channelosome [4].
Low-Dimensionality Calibration through Local Anisotropic Scaling for Robust Hand Model Personalization

We present a robust algorithm for personalizing a spheremesh tracking model to a user from a collection of depth measurements. Our core contribution is to demonstrate how simple geometric reasoning can be exploited to build a shape-space, and how its performance is comparable to shape-spaces constructed from datasets of carefully calibrated models. We achieve this goal by first reparameterizing the geometry of the tracking template, and introducing a multi-stage calibration optimization. Our novel parameterization decouples the degrees of freedom for pose and shape, resulting in improved convergence properties. Our analytically differentiable multi-stage calibration pipeline optimizes for the model in the natural low-dimensional space of local anisotropic scalings, leading to an effective solution that can be easily embedded in other tracking/calibration algorithms. Compared to existing sphere-mesh calibration algorithms, quantitative experiments assess our algorithm possesses a larger convergence basin, and our personalized models allows to perform motion tracking with superior accuracy.