Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An approach to membrane protein structure without crystals

The lactose permease of Escherichia coli catalyzes coupled translocation of galactosides and H+ across the cell membrane. It is the best-characterized member of the Major Facilitator Superfamily, a related group of membrane proteins with 12 transmembrane domains that mediate transport of various substrates across cell membranes. Despite decades of effort and their functional importance in all kingdoms of life, no high-resolution structures have been solved for any member of this family. However, extensive biochemical, genetic, and biophysical studies on lactose permease have established its transmembrane topology, secondary structure, and numerous interhelical contacts. Here we demonstrate that this information is sufficient to calculate a structural model at the level of helix packing or better.
The N-terminal POZ Domain of GAGA Mediates the Formation of Oligomers That Bind DNA with High Affinity and Specificity*

The Drosophila GAGA factor self-oligomerizes both in vivo and in vitro. GAGA oligomerization depends on the presence of the N-terminal POZ domain and the formation of dimers, tetramers, and oligomers of high stoichiometry is observed in vitro. GAGA oligomers bind DNA with high affinity and specificity. As a consequence of its multimeric character, the interaction of GAGA with DNA fragments carrying several GAGA binding sites is multivalent and of higher affinity than its interaction with fragments containing single short sites. A single GAGA oligomer is capable of binding adjacent GAGA binding sites spaced by as many as 20 base pairs. GAGA oligomers are functionally active, being transcriptionally competent in vitro. GAGA-dependent transcription activation depends strongly on the number of GAGA binding sites present in the promoter. The POZ domain is not necessary for in vitro transcription but, in its absence, no synergism is observed on increasing the number of binding sites contained within the promoter. These results are discussed in view of the distribution of GAGA binding sites that, most frequently, form clusters of relatively short sites spaced by small variable distances.
Experimental osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy and vitamin D deficiency does not markedly affect fracture healing in rats

Background The question of whether fracture healing and mechanical properties of the callus are influenced by osteoporosis (OP) is still not settled. We therefore studied this issue in vitamin D-depleted ovariectomized (OVX) rats, an OP model previously shown to induce weakening of the femoral neck, and thus thought to be closer to the human condition than the classic OVX rat model. Methods 72 female Wistar rats were randomized into two groups: ovariectomy and vitamin D-deficient diet (Ovx-D group) or sham operation and normal rat chow (Sham group). After 12 weeks, a closed tibial midshaft fracture was performed on the right side and fixed with an intramedullary nail. Bone loss and callus formation were monitored with DXA; serum levels of estradiol and vitamin D3 were measured and histomorphometric analyses were performed. Mechanical properties of callus, tibia, femoral shaft, and femoral neck were examined in 3-point cantilever bending 6 weeks after fracture. Results The Ovx-D group showed reduced BMD in the spine and femoral neck, and reduced trabecular bone volume in the femoral head. There were no differences in BMD and mechanical properties of callus between the groups. Except for reduced stiffness of the right femoral neck in the Ovx-D group (p = 0.02), no differences in the mechanical strength of long bones were detected. Interpretation Our results suggest that the systemic effects of estrogen and vitamin D deficiency are not crucial for fracture healing or mechanical properties of the callus.
Calcium for Prevention of Osteoporotic Fractures in Postmenopausal Women

A systematic review of the literature was conducted to assess the effectiveness of calcium supplements and/or dietary calcium for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. Studies were identified by conducting a Medline search using the text words “fracture” and “calcium” for the period 1966 to March 1997 and by reviewing articles known to the authors. Only studies with fracture outcomes were eligible. There were 14 studies of calcium supplements (including 4 randomized trials), 18 studies of dietary calcium and hip fracture (no randomized trials), and 5 studies of dietary calcium and other fracture sites (no randomized trials). The 4 randomized trials of calcium supplements (mean calcium dose: 1050 mg) found relative risk (RR) reductions between 25% and 70%. Meta‐analytic techniques for dose‐response data were used to investigate and pool the findings of 16 observational studies of dietary calcium and hip fracture. These hip fracture studies were not consistent and heterogeneity of study findings (p = 0.02) was not easily explained by subject characteristics or study design. Pooling study results gave an odds ratio (OR) of 0.96 (95% confidence interval, (CI) 0.93–0.99) per 300 mg/day increase in calcium intake (the equivalent of one glass of milk). This is likely to be an underestimate of calcium's true effect because of inaccurate measurement of dietary calcium in observational studies. This review supports the current clinical and public health policy of recommending increased calcium intake among older women for fracture prevention.
A Novel Hardware Accelerator for Embedded Object Detection Applications

Object detection applications often require the algorithms to execute on embedded processing platforms, such as multiprocessor SoCs. One way these algorithms can search input images for objects-of-interest is by consulting a detection library that contains a list of features describing the objects. The processing of large volumes of image data and consultation with a library can decrease the performance of processing platforms, as contention for cacheable resources leads to varied data locality and reuse: software-based techniques have been investigated in the literature with varied success. This paper addresses this issue head-on through a novel hardware accelerator designed to overcome the disadvantages of shared resources contention while optimizing on-chip memory consumption. Detection libraries are compressed and stored on-chip within the accelerator that decompresses the data and writes it to dedicated dual-port memories ensuring optimal library data locality and reuse for all processors. By allowing the accelerator to manipulate library data, application performance can be improved by reducing the computation carried out by processors. Our evaluation revealed that by eliminating contention within caches, the application performance was drastically improved without over-consuming on-chip resources or power.
Critical constructivism: interpreting mathematics education for social justice

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Mitogen activated protein kinase‐dependent inhibition of osteocalcin gene expression by transforming growth factor‐β1

TGF‐β (transforming growth factor‐beta) plays a key role in osteoblast differentiation and bone development. While the ability of TGF‐β to inhibit the expression of osteoblast differentiation genes has been well documented, the mechanism of this inhibition is not yet completely characterized. Runx2, a transcription factor necessary for expression of osteoblast differentiation genes is a central target of inhibition by TGF‐β. In this study, we found that TGF‐β1 inhibits expression of osteoblast differentiation genes without altering expression of Runx2. Transient transfection experiments determined that TGF‐β1 inhibited osteocalcin promoter activity and this effect is mediated through Runx2. We further identified that there was no change in protein expression, cellular localization, or DNA binding affinity of Runx2 after TGF‐β1‐treatment of osteoblasts, suggesting that Runx2 undergoes post‐translational modifications following TGF‐β1 treatment. Co‐immunoprecipitation experiments identified increased phosphorylation of Runx2 when differentiating osteoblasts were treated with TGF‐β1. Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors relieved the TGF‐β1‐inhibitory effect of Runx2‐mediated osteocalcin expression. Thus, our results suggest that TGF‐β1‐inhibition of osteoblast differentiation is dependent on the MAPK pathway and this effect is most likely mediated by post‐translational modification of Runx2 such as phosphorylation rather than other regulatory mechanisms. J. Cell. Biochem. 106: 161–169, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Conditional cash transfer programmes: Experiences from Latin America

This article analyses the experience of five conditional cash transfer programmes established in Latin America to reduce poverty and increase human capital in the form of education, health and nutrition. These innovative programmes should help towards the Millennium Development Goals, and some have become pillars of their countries’ anti-poverty efforts. The article begins by presenting some of the concepts that underlie conditional transfer programmes. It then goes on to examine the following experiences: the Bolsa Escola programme and the Programme for the Eradication of Child Labour (Brazil), Families in Action (Colombia), the Social Protection Network (Nicaragua) and the Oportunidades programme (Mexico), analysing their goals, components, targeting mechanisms, impact and efficiency. The article concludes by offering some policy recommendations and identifying design components that might serve as good practice when programmes of this kind are implemented.
Using validated measures of high school academic achievement to predict university success

ABSTRACT Administrative data from a New Zealand university are used to validate the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Rank Score used in university admissions and scholarship decisions. We find no statistical evidence to corroborate the specific weighting scheme used in this index. For example, our regression analysis suggests that too much weight is attached to the lowest category of credits in predicting both successful completion outcomes and letter grades. To show the potential importance of this validated measure of high school achievement, we run several simulations on these first-year student outcomes at this university. We show that the use of an alternative, empirically-validated measure of NCEA results to select students would lead to only slight improvements in course completion rates and letter grades. These higher entry standards would lead to declines in the proportions of Pacifica students, but minimal impacts on the proportion of Māori students enrolled at this university.
Employee wellbeing: The role of psychological detachment on the relationship between engagement and work–life conflict

Given the importance of employee wellbeing to performance, organisations have increased their focus on understanding and managing the factors that contribute to wellbeing in the workplace. Drawing on the Job Demands–Resources model, this study tests the direct and indirect effects of engagement, drive and job demands on work–life conflict and wellbeing. The findings indicate that engagement and working overtime were indirectly related to work–life conflict through lack of psychological detachment from work. In addition, being pressured to prioritise work over personal life, work overload, working overtime and experiencing strong drive were indirectly associated with reduced wellbeing through increased work–life conflict. This study demonstrates that to enjoy the benefits of a highly engaged workforce, organisations must enable employee detachment from work.
Activity levels and the relationship to lung function and nutritional status in children with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is characterized by chronic obstructive lung disease and malnutrition. Previous studies have shown that nutritional status and lung function are limiting factors for exercise capacity. A reduced exercise capacity may in turn diminish activity levels. We evaluated whether the total time spent somewhat active (e.g., walking) or active (e.g., biking), as reported by the Habitual Activity Estimation Scale, was related to lung function, as evaluated by forced expiratory volume in one second (%predicted FEV1), and nutritional status, measured as body mass percentile, in 36 children with cystic fibrosis, aged 6 to 16 years. The Habitual Activity Estimation Scale questionnaires were completed by the parents for children younger than 12 years of age and by both the parent and the child, independently, for those 12 years and older. Patients had a body mass percentile of 99 +/- 15.2% and % predicted FEV1 of 85.7 +/- 20, with no differences between boys (15/36) and girls (21/36). Boys spent 8.1 hours and girls spent 7.5 hours (P > 0.1) being at least somewhat active. These values are similar to those reported for healthy boys and girls. In patients with significant lung disease (%predicted FEV1, < or = 75; n = 11), activity level (the time spent somewhat active or active) was related to nutritional status (r = 0.675; P = 0.02) but not to lung function (r = 0.21; P > 0.1). Activity level reported by patients 12 years of age and older was on average 24.1% higher (P < 0.05) than that reported by their parents, but the two reportings were related (r = 0.758; P = 0.004). These results suggest that activity level may be restricted by nutritional status in those patients with significant air flow limitation. We suggest that improving the nutritional status of cystic fibrosis patients may prevent decreases in activity levels and quality of life of these affected children.
Development of a University/College Pathway for Academic Success Remediation

Some students have difficulty in achieving success in the first year of study. Programs are intensive and do not include capabilities to recover from deficiencies affecting academic performance. A mechanism is needed for students to break off from their program, and address their specific deficiencies, before returning. The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College have developed a pathway for enhanced academic success to support students requiring remediation. The proposed pathway is done in such a way that successful students will be eligible to earn a General Arts and Science certificate concurrently with the continuation of their University degree. In the academic success pathway, students that have been suspended from UOIT will be given the opportunity to enter a Durham College program that will address academic success related deficiencies. The students will undergo an assessment process to identify their specific needs and will have access to academic advisors at both institutions for guidance. Upon successfully completing the program, the student returns to University with a position reserved in their program of study allowing for a semester reduction in the time lost due to suspension. This program allows for the student to focus on other academic deficiencies upon their return to UOIT. The program also allows students to recognize that they are not in the right program or at the right academic level and choose to transfer to the College or apply to switch University programs during the remedial semester. Regardless of the pathway taken, the student is provided the opportunity to be successful in obtaining the academic education that they are suited for.
Leakage power consumption in FPGAs: Thermal analysis

Current power saving techniques have been focused on reducing the dynamic power consumption induced by switching activity in CMOS digital circuits. Among these techniques, we can cite the clock gating, dynamic voltage frequency scaling, adaptive voltage scaling, and multiple voltage thresholds. Recently, as transistor sizes get smaller, the leakage power consumption has become a non-negligible and dominating part of the total power consumption. Thus, it is essential to take care of this new constraint in order to design low-power embedded wireless communication systems. It's well known that there are a strong relationship between leakage power and die-temperature, so that the larger leakage power consumption is associated with the higher temperature. In this paper we give a detailed analysis of FPGA leakage power consumption based on die temperature measurement. Also, after discretizing the FPGA area into several rectangular regions, we investigate whether dynamic partial reconfiguration technique can be performed over different regions to decrease average die-temperature, and consequently the leakage power consumption.
Inoculation with Azospirillum sp. and Herbaspirillum sp. Bacteria Increases the Tolerance of Maize to Drought Stress

Stress drought is an important abiotic factor that leads to immense losses in crop yields around the world. Strategies are urgently needed to help plants adapt to drought in order to mitigate crop losses. Here we investigated the bioprotective effects of inoculating corn grown under drought conditions with two types of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), A. brasilense, strain SP-7, and H. seropedicae, strain Z-152. Plants inoculated with the bacteria were grown in a greenhouse with perlite as a substrate. Two hydric conditions were tested: normal well-watered conditions and drought conditions. Compared to control non-inoculated plants, those that were inoculated with PGPR bacteria showed a higher tolerance to the negative effects of water stress in drought conditions, with higher biomass production; higher carbon, nitrogen, and chlorophyll levels; and lower levels of abscisic acid and ethylene, which are plant hormones that affect the stress response. The oxidative stress levels of these plants were similar to those of non-inoculated plants grown in well-watered conditions, showing fewer injuries to the cell membrane. We also noted higher relative water content in the vegetal tissue and better osmoregulation in drought conditions in inoculated plants, as reflected by significantly lower proline content. Finally, we observed lower gene expression of ZmVP14 in the inoculated plants; notably, ZmVP14 is involved in the biosynthesis of abscisic acid. Taken together, these results demonstrate that these bacteria could be used to help plants cope with the negative effects of drought stress conditions.
Decreased systemic polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) rolling without increased PMN adhesion in peritonitis at remote sites.

BACKGROUND Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated that the host response to intra-abdominal infection produces increased generalized polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) adherence to vascular endothelial cells (ECs), which may lead to subsequent endothelial damage, leaky capillaries, and organ dysfunction. There are scant data to demonstrate this enhanced systemic PMN adherence in vivo or the influence of PMN rolling on PMN endothelial adherence. HYPOTHESIS Systemic PMN adherence in the animal with sepsis is increased. DESIGN In vivo murine model of a 2-front infection using intravital microscopy of the cremasteric muscle to quantify PMN-EC adherence in a septic response. SETTING Basic science laboratory and animal surgical facility. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS One hundred CD1 male mice. INTERVENTIONS Animals underwent cecal ligation and puncture peritonitis, cremasteric muscle Escherichia coli infection, both infections, or neither (controls). Eighteen hours later, the mice underwent exteriorization of the cremasteric muscle under an intravital microscope for measurement of PMN-EC interactions. Blood was then drawn for calculation of circulating PMN counts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Adherence of PMNs, PMN rolling flux, PMN rolling velocity, and circulating PMN counts. RESULTS Circulatory mechanics did not differ between the groups. Unlike static in vitro systems, we could not detect an increase in PMN adherence after peritonitis with this dynamic in vivo model. A local (cremasteric) infection was associated with marked PMN adherence. Peritonitis was associated with reduced PMN adherence at a local infection site as well as reduced rolling adhesion and PMN rolling velocity. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that intra-abdominal infection does not increase remote PMN adherence, and may actually result in reduction of systemic adherence via modulation of PMN rolling.
Mission statements of universities worldwide: Text mining and visualization

Purpose: To conduct a transnational study of universities’ mission statements (MS) through content analysis to identify characteristics related to language (e.g. number of words, the most and least frequently used words) and if those characteristics are related to universities’ location, size, focus, research output, age band and status (i.e. private or public). Design/methodology/approach : Content analysis by using Voyant Tools. Findings: The main results showed: (1) a necessity for self-awareness; (2) an overall emphasis on society and students, as stakeholders; (3) there were no discernible similarities in terms between firms and universities; (4) MS tend to be longer in universities from Asia and shorter from Europe; (5) the absence of quantitative elements; (6) small universities prioritized knowledge over research; (7) the youngest universities tend to use more of the least frequently used terms; (8) public universities emphasized students and private universities emphasized education; and (9) the private sector has a noticeable interest in the society and the public sector on community. Research limitations/implications : Sub-samples of certain regions should more inclusive in further studies. Considering that the mean sample of MS studies was 89.6, this study used a sample more than two times larger. Although, the African (4) and Latin-American (5) samples were not significant compared with European (94) or North American (79) subsamples. Thus, further studies should consider a more-inclusive ranking in research databases than the QS world university ranking. Practical implications: University planning offices can use these results and the digital database to construct a global outlook on MS trends or uncommonly used terms to define the purpose of their university and future course of action, embrace an overall isomorphism, or seek a distinctive strategy to differentiate their institution from others. In addition, this research can be used by strategic planning scholars to conduct regionally or nationally focused studies. Social Implications: Universities’ MS serve as public pronouncements of their purpose, ambition, and values. In this study, we presented and analyzed the contents of those purposes, in which mission-oriented universities, some of them as global influencers, seek to perform in multiple levels of importance for every country (i.e. education, research, and services with both private and public sectors and the community). Originality/value: Most of the previous studies are restricted to national contexts and based on reduced samples with no open access digital data. In this study we considered a wide sample of universities from Europe, North America, Asia, Oceania, Latin America and Africa; and delivered a digital open access database of MS from those universities.