Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of Immunosensors Using Carbon Nanotubes

With increasing reports on bioterrorism, avian flu, and other bio‐threats, rapid and real time detection methods are highly warranted. Studies on developing highly sensitive immunosensors aiming at the early detection and clinical diagnoses of various diseases including cancer are undertaken all over the globe. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely discussed as materials with enormous potential for a wide range of in vivo and in vitro bioapplications, ranging from drug delivery to highly sensitive biosensors, owing to their superior electronic and mechanical properties along with nanoscale dimensions. Though a lot of attention has been drawn toward carbon nanotubes for the past 15 years in academia and to a certain extent in industry, CNT‐based immunosensors and other applications are still in the nascent stage, and there are many challenges to be overcome for the successful commercialization of the concepts. This article highlights on the recent developments and the possible impacts of carbon nanotube based immunosensors.
Synapse proteomics: current status and quantitative applications

Chemical synapses are key organelles for neurotransmission. The coordinated actions of protein networks in diverse synaptic subdomains drive the sequential molecular events of transmitter release from the presynaptic bouton, activation of transmitter receptors located in the postsynaptic density and the changes of postsynaptic potential. Plastic change of synaptic efficacy is thought to be caused by the alteration of protein constituents and their interaction in the synapse. As a first step toward the understanding of the organization of synapse, several proteomics studies have been carried out to profile the protein constituents and the post-translational modifications in various rodent excitatory chemical synaptic subdomains, including postsynaptic density, synaptic vesicle and the synaptic phosphoproteome. Quantitative proteomics have been applied to examine the changes of synaptic proteins during brain development, in knockout mice model developed for studies of synapse physiology and in rodent models of brain disorders. These analyses generate testable hypotheses of synapse function and regulation both in health and disease.
Ethical Considerations in the Development of the Flexibility in Duty Hour Requirements for Surgical Trainees Trial

In February 2016, the results of the Flexibility in Duty Hour Requirements for Surgical Trainees (FIRST) Trial were released1 amidst controversy. Participating general surgical residency programs were randomized to either a control arm, which adhered to current Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) duty hour requirements, or an intervention arm, which relaxed many duty hour restrictions while still adhering to the 80-hour work week. Critics of the trial questioned the ethics of its design and conduct. Public Citizen, a consumer watchdog group, and the American Medical Student Association, filed a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the study’s unethical nature. They contended that the FIRST Trial was misclassified as nonhuman subjects research, involved unacceptable risk for the residents in the intervention arm, and failed to satisfy informed consent requirements.2 While these complaints represented an oversimplified view of the relevant issues, they highlighted the need to discuss the inherent ethical complexities of this trial. These issues, which are not unique to the FIRST Trial and could arise in future randomized studies testing institutional policy changes, include (1) institutional review board (IRB) determination, (2) assessment of equipoise, and (3) informed consent.
The 50th Anniversary of Japanese Society of Neuropathology Memorial Symposium: Milestones in Neuropathology from Japan Ubiquitin-positive tau-negative intraneuronal inclusions in dementia with motor neuron disease

We first reported ubiquitin-positive tau-negative intraneuronal inclusions in the hippocampal granular cell layer and entorhinal cortices in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We then found that those inclusions occur frequently in patients with presenile dementia and motor neuron disease. The ultrastructure of the inclusions consists mainly of granules with a few filaments. In 2006, TDP-43 was identified as a major component of the inclusions specific for frontotemporal lobar degeneration and ALS. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding ubiquitin-positive tau-negative intraneuronal inclusions.
Informative Path Planning and Sensor Scheduling for Persistent Monitoring Tasks

In this thesis we consider two combinatorial optimization problems that relate to the field of persistent monitoring. In the first part, we extend the classic problem of finding the maximum weight Hamiltonian cycle in a graph to the case where the objective is a submodular function of the edges. We consider a greedy algorithm and a 2-matching based algorithm, and we show that they have approximation factors of 1 2+κ and max{ 2 3(2+κ) , 2 3 (1−κ)} respectively, where κ is the curvature of the submodular function. Both algorithms require a number of calls to the submodular function that is cubic to the number of vertices in the graph. We then present a method to solve a multi-objective optimization consisting of both additive edge costs and submodular edge rewards. We provide simulation results to empirically evaluate the performance of the algorithms. Finally, we demonstrate an application in monitoring an environment using an autonomous mobile sensor, where the sensing reward is related to the entropy reduction of a given a set of measurements. In the second part, we study the problem of selecting sensors to obtain the most accurate state estimate of a linear system. The estimator is taken to be a Kalman filter and we attempt to optimize the a posteriori error covariance. For a finite time horizon, we show that, under certain restrictive conditions, the problem can be phrased as a submodular function optimization and that a greedy approach yields a 1− 1 e1−1/e -approximation. Next, for an infinite time horizon, we characterize the exact conditions for the existence of a schedule with bounded estimation error covariance. We then present a scheduling algorithm that guarantees that the error covariance will be bounded and that the error will die out exponentially for any detectable LTI system. Simulations are provided to compare the performance of the algorithm against other known techniques.
Editorial: The many wonders of the bacterial cell surface.

The microbial world offers constant reminders of the astonishing and exquisite complexity of unicellular life. The bacterial cell envelope is a remarkable example of a multifunctional and multi-faceted structure designed to protect both the integrity of the cell and dictate its shape. It insulates the intracellular compartment from the outside world but still preserves a phenomenal ability to communicate and sense the extracellular environment and exerts control of molecular trafficking of a vast array of nutrients and macromolecules. A virtual issue proposed by FEMS Microbiology Reviews, and entitled ‘Bacterial Cell Surfaces’, provides an exciting flight over the principle features of the composition, flexibility and function of the bacterial cell envelope. Glycerophospholipids represent a basic constituent of all membranes. They form the membrane bilayer that immediately surrounds the bacterial cytoplasmic compartment, as well as the inner leaflet of the Gram-negative outer membrane. While it has long been believed that the membrane composition is relatively fixed, Sohlenkamp and Geiger present a remarkable illustration of the variability of phospholipid content between different species and within a single species faced with the need to adapt to changing environments (Sohlenkamp and Geiger 2015). One of the defining features of bacteria is the application of peptidoglycan (PG) to create the rigid, stress-bearing layer of the cell envelope and dictate cell shape. This is a thick multi-layered structure in Gram-positive bacteria but is predominantly single-layered in Gram-negative bacteria, which have the added protection afforded by the outer membrane. Despite the wide distribution of PG, a few controversial exceptions have remained where this macromolecule could not be identified with conventional methods. Chlamydia-related bacteria provide a classic example. In their review, Jacquier and colleagues report on extraordinary advances that have finally resolved the question of whether Chlamydia-related bacteria contain PG. Not only is PG present, it is also … [↵][1]* Corresponding editors. E-mail: a.filloux{at}imperial.ac. uk and cwhitfie{at}uoguelph.ca [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
The transmission capability of a 10-Gb/s electroabsorption modulator integrated DFB laser using the offset bias chirp reduction technique

The transmission capability using the offset bias chirp reduction technique of a 10-Gb/s modulator-integrated DFB laser is evaluated using transmission simulation, taking into account modulation-induced dynamic chirping. The calculated results indicate the feasible transmission distance over normal dispersion fibers is 120 km with optimizing wavelength detuning, and 80 km for practical use.
Retinal vascular abnormalities in CADASIL

To assess retinal vascular alterations in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy, the authors examined 10 affected individuals with ophthalmologic evaluation including fluorescence angiography. Findings included bilateral peripapillary arteriolar sheathing (30%), arteriolar narrowing (80%), and arteriovenous nicking (90%). No retinal infarcts, vascular occlusions, exudation, or hypoperfusion of affected vessels were found.
Design effects in the analysis of longitudinal survey data

The design effect measures the inflation of the sampling variance of an estimator as a result of the use of a complex sampling scheme. It is usually measured relative to the variance of the estimator under simple random sampling. Many social survey designs employ multi-stage sampling, leading to some clustering of the sample and this tends to lead to design effects greater than unity. There is some empirical evidence that design effects from clustering tend to decrease the more complex the analysis. For example, design effects for regression coefficients are often found to be less than design effects for the mean of the dependent variable in the regression. Evidence of design effects close to unity for such analyses may be used by some analysts of survey data to justify ignoring the sampling design in complex analyses. In this paper we present some evidence of an opposite tendency, for design effects to be higher for complex longitudinal analyses than for corresponding cross-sectional analyses. Our empirical evidence is based upon data from the British Household Panel Study. This survey follows longitudinally a sample of individuals selected in 1991 by two-stage sampling, with clustering by area. Data are collected in annual waves. Our analyses are based upon a subsample of women aged 16-39. The dependent variable is a gender role attitude score, derived from responses to six five-point questions, and treated as a continuous variable. Covariates include age group, economic activity and educational qualifications. Longitudinal regression models include random effects for women. Data are analysed for five waves of the survey when the gender role attitude questions were asked. The design effects for the regression coefficients are found to increase the more waves are included in the analysis. A similar tendency is observed for estimates of the time-averaged mean of the dependent variable. A possible theoretical explanation is provided. The implication of these findings is that standard errors in analyses of longitudinal survey data may be very misleading if the inital sample was clustered and if this clustering is ignored in the analysis.
Atlantic bluefin tuna: population dynamics, ecology, fisheries and management

Both old and new information on the biology and ecology of Atlantic bluefin tuna have confronted scientists with research challenges: research needs to be connected to current stock- assessment and management issues. We review recent studies on habitat, migrations and population structure, stressing the importance of electronic tagging results in the modification of our perception of bluefin tuna population dynamics and behaviour. Additionally, we question, from both scientific and management perspectives, the usefulness of the classical stock concept and suggest other approaches, such as Clark's contingent and metapopulation theories. Current biological information confirms that a substantial amount of uncertainty still exists in the understanding of reproduction and growth. In particular, we focus on intriguing issues such as the difference in age-at-maturity between West Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna. Our description of Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries places today's fishing patterns within the two millennium history of exploitation of this species: we discuss trap fisheries that existed between the 17th and the early 20th centuries; Atlantic fisheries during the 1950s and 1960s; and the consequences of the recent development of the sushi-sashimi market. Finally, we evaluate stock status and management issues since the early 1970s. While important uncertainties remain, when the fisheries history is confronted with evidence from biological and stock-assessment studies, results indicate that Atlantic bluefin tuna has been undergoing heavy overfishing for a decade. We conclude that the current exploitation of bluefin tuna has many biological and economic traits that have led several fish stocks to extreme depletion in the past.
Starter cultures used in probiotic dairy product preparation and popular probiotic dairy drinks

Dairy products that contain probiotic bacteria are those that are produced with various fermentation methods, especially lactic acid fermentation, by using starter cultures and those that have various textures and aromas. Fermented dairy products are popular due to their differences in taste and their favourable physiological effects. Today, fermented dairy beverages in general are produced locally by using traditional methods. Recently, due to the increased demand for natural nutrients and probiotic products, fermented dairy beverages have reached a different position and are considered to have an important impact on human health and nutrition. In this article, probiotic bacteria and functional dairy products that are produced by using probiotic bacteria are discussed.
The Impact of TV Ads on the Individual User's Online Purchasing Behavior

The importance of a well-balanced cross-channel marketing strategy has increased over the past few years. The synergies caused by the interdependencies of different online channels, such as e-mail advertising, search engine and banner advertising, have also drawn the attention of many researchers. However, relatively little is known about the impact of offline marketing, such as TV advertising, on online user behavior. In this article, a model commonly used in clickstream analysis is extended by adding several TV advertising variables. Based on this model, a hierarchical Bayesian logistic model is developed to estimate the cross-channel effects of both offline and online channel contacts. By applying this model to a case study, it is shown which online channels are most supported by television ads. The findings of this paper have managerial implications for practitioners in the field, in particular because of the increasing use of a so-called “second screen” while watching TV.
Purification and Characterization of a Novel 3-Chlorobenzoate-Reductive Dehalogenase from the Cytoplasmic Membrane of Desulfomonile tiedjei DCB-1 SHUISONG NI

Although reductive dehalogenation by anaerobic microorganisms offers great potential for the degradation of halocarbons, little is known about the biochemical mechanisms involved. It has previously been demonstrated that the dehalogenase activity involved in 3-chlorobenzoate dehalogenation by Desulfomonile tiedjei DCB-1 is present in the membrane fraction of the cell extracts. We report herein the purification of a 3-chlorobenzoate-reductive dehalogenase from the cytoplasmic membrane of D. tiedjei DCB-1. The dehalogenase activity was monitored by the conversion of 3-chlorobenzoate to benzoate with reduced methyl viologen as a reducing agent. The membrane fraction of the cell extracts was obtained by ultracentrifugation, and the membrane proteins were solubilized with either the detergent CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate) or Triton X-100 in the presence of glycerol. The solubilized dehalogenase was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and a combination of anion exchange, hydroxyapatite, and hydrophobic interaction chromatographies. This procedure yielded about 7% of the total dehalogenase activity with a 120-fold increase in specific activity. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the purified dehalogenase consisted of two subunits with molecular weights of 64,000 and 37,000. The enzyme converted 3-chlorobenzoate to benzoate at its highest specific activity in 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) at 38&C. The enzyme was yellow and probably a heme protein. The enzyme had an adsorbance peak at 408 nm. The dithionite-reduced enzyme displayed absorbance peaks at 416, 522, and 550 nm. The dithionite-reduced enzyme was able to complex with carbon monoxide. The nature of the heme chromophore is currently unknown.
Physiological and Pathological Roles of CaMKII-PP1 Signaling in the Brain

Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), a multifunctional serine (Ser)/threonine (Thr) protein kinase, regulates diverse activities related to Ca2+-mediated neuronal plasticity in the brain, including synaptic activity and gene expression. Among its regulators, protein phosphatase-1 (PP1), a Ser/Thr phosphatase, appears to be critical in controlling CaMKII-dependent neuronal signaling. In postsynaptic densities (PSDs), CaMKII is required for hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), a cellular process correlated with learning and memory. In response to Ca2+ elevation during hippocampal LTP induction, CaMKIIα, an isoform that translocates from the cytosol to PSDs, is activated through autophosphorylation at Thr286, generating autonomous kinase activity and a prolonged Ca2+/CaM-bound state. Moreover, PP1 inhibition enhances Thr286 autophosphorylation of CaMKIIα during LTP induction. By contrast, CaMKII nuclear import is regulated by Ser332 phosphorylation state. CaMKIIδ3, a nuclear isoform, is dephosphorylated at Ser332 by PP1, promoting its nuclear translocation, where it regulates transcription. In this review, we summarize physio-pathological roles of CaMKII/PP1 signaling in neurons. CaMKII and PP1 crosstalk and regulation of gene expression is important for neuronal plasticity as well as survival and/or differentiation.
PARASITES OF NATIVE AND NONNATIVE FISHES OF THE LITTLE COLORADO RIVER, GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA

A 2-yr, seasonal, parasitological study of 1,435 fish, belonging to 4 species of native fishes and 7 species of nonnative fishes from the lower Little Colorado River (LCR) and tributary creeks, Grand Canyon, Arizona, yielded 17 species of parasites. These comprised 1 myxozoan (Henneguya exilis), 2 copepods (Ergasilus arthrosis and Lernaea cyprinacea), 1 acarine (Oribatida gen. sp.), 1 piscicolid leech (Myzobdella lugubris), 4 monogeneans (Gyrodactylus hoffmani, Gyrodactylus sp., Dactylogyrus extensus, and Ligictaluridus floridanus), 4 nematodes (Contracaecum sp., Eustrongylides sp., Rhabdochona sp., and Truttaedacnitis truttae), 3 cestodes (Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, Corallobothrium fimbriatum, and Megathylacoides giganteum), and 2 trematodes (Ornithodiplostomum sp. and Posthodiplostomum sp.). Rhabdochona sp. was the only adult parasite native to the LCR. Infection intensities of Ornithodiplostomum sp. and B. acheilognathi were positively correlated with length of the humpback chub Gila cypha. Adult helminths showed a high degree of host specificity, except B. acheilognathi, which was recovered from all fish species examined but was most abundant in cyprinids. Abundance of B. acheilognathi in the humpback chub was highest in the fall and lowest in the summer in both reaches of the LCR. There was no major taxonomic difference in parasite assemblages between the 2 different reaches of the river (LC1 and LC2). Parasite community diversity was very similar in humpback chub, regardless of sampling site or time. The parasite fauna of the LCR is numerically dominated by B. acheilognathi and metacercariae of Ornithodiplostomum sp. The richest and most diverse component community occurred in a nonnative species, the channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, but infracommunity species richness was highest in a native host, humpback chub.
Malleable neural networks in fault detection of complex systems

Industrial machining centres are composed of complex integrated subsystems with independent critical issues. Neural networks (NN) is capable of monitoring unset of faults, however, complexity of the many possible failure modes and various levels of intensity may deteriorate the accuracy of NN. This paper presents malleable neural networks architecture for condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of a subsystem of a machining centre. A central NN is trained with faulty status of operation at the core stage which is then able to discern between healthy and all possible faulty states. NNs are then modulated to learn each failure mode with their different intensity levels. Diagnostic is initially made by the central module, then, the network is reconfigured by an interprocess call to adapt to an appropriate topology and knowledgebase to detect the severity level of the fault. The monitoring system uses steady state values of sensitive parameters of current and pressure transducers. If the parameters are out of a predefined healthy range, a nondestructive test will be initiated, which produces a transient response as input pattern to the NNs. Testing the NN based monitoring system with 395 failure modes showed that in 99.2% of cases the network was successful to accurately identify the cause and severity of the failures.
Hereditary ! Musician ! Groups ! ! of ! Pakistani ! Punjab ! ! Lowell !

With! notable! exceptions,! professional! musicians! in! Pakistani! Punjab! have! come! from! exclusive,! hereditary! groups. The! ubiquitous! term! m"r#s"! has! been! used! by! the! cultural! elite! and! scholars! to! refer! to! many! among! these! types! of! musicians. The! application! of! the! term! has! been! inconsistent,! and! it! often! disregards! how! the! musicians! view! themselves. However,! one! must! come! to! terms! with! it! in! order! to! grasp! the! social! configurations! of! Punjabi! professional! musicians. With! that! in! mind,! this! article! critiques! the! literature! on! Mirasis! to! demonstrate! the! diverse! and! often! confusing! ways! these! musicians! have! been! categorized. It! will! then! draw! on! field! data! to! explore! the! multiple! ways! which! musicians,! non"musicians,! and! ethnographers! define! the! professional! musicians! of! West! Punjab.