Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Macromolecular inhibition of quorum sensing: enzymes, antibodies, and beyond.

Department of Chemistry and National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva, Israel; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Kolff Institute, University Medical Center Groningen and the University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; and Departments of Chemistry and Immunology & Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
Multilayer parasitic microstrip antenna array for WiMAX application

This paper presents the design of a multilayer parasitic microstrip antenna array concerned on enhancement of gain at 5.8 GHz for WiMAX application. The proposed structure of this project is microstrip patch antenna array which is composes of three layers using different material substrate. The substrate for the first layer consists of Flame Retardant 4 (FR-4) that has thickness 1.6mm while the second and third layers are 3mm thickness using foam substrate. The first layer is a driven element while second and third layer are 2 by 2 parasitic patch elements. The multilayer microstrip antenna array was design and optimized using Computer Simulation Tool (CST). The simulation results show the enhancement of gain is increased about 62.3% when adding the parasitic element. The gain before adding the parasitic element is 2.012 dB and after adding the parasitic elements is 8.656 dB. The performance of the designed antenna is to test for return loss, Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), bandwidth, directivity, radiation pattern and gain.
Fit for purpose? Validation of a conceptual framework for personal recovery with current mental health consumers

Objective: Mental health services in the UK, Australia and other Anglophone countries have moved towards supporting personal recovery as a primary orientation. To provide an empirically grounded foundation to identify and evaluate recovery-oriented interventions, we previously published a conceptual framework of personal recovery based on a systematic review and narrative synthesis of existing models. Our objective was to test the validity and relevance of this framework for people currently using mental health services. Method: Seven focus groups were conducted with 48 current mental health consumers in three NHS trusts across England, as part of the REFOCUS Trial. Consumers were asked about the meaning and their experience of personal recovery. Deductive and inductive thematic analysis applying a constant comparison approach was used to analyse the data. The analysis aimed to explore the validity of the categories within the conceptual framework, and to highlight any areas of difference between the conceptual framework and the themes generated from new data collected from the focus groups. Results: Both the inductive and deductive analysis broadly validated the conceptual framework, with the super-ordinate categories Connectedness, Hope and optimism, Identity, Meaning and purpose, and Empowerment (CHIME) evident in the analysis. Three areas of difference were, however, apparent in the inductive analysis. These included practical support; a greater emphasis on issues around diagnosis and medication; and scepticism surrounding recovery. Conclusions: This study suggests that the conceptual framework of personal recovery provides a defensible theoretical base for clinical and research purposes which is valid for use with current consumers. However, the three areas of difference further stress the individual nature of recovery and the need for an understanding of the population and context under investigation.
Floquet analysis of two-dimensional perturbed Keplerian flows in cataclysmic variables

Aims. We apply Floquet analysis to study the dynamical stability of two-dimensional axisymmetric Keplerian flows distorted by an m = 2 epicyclic periodic forcing term, representing a tidal perturbation in a thin accretion disk (AD) of a cataclysmic variable (CV). This tidal mode is responsible for the disk truncation mechanism. Methods. Floquet analysis reveals, with a positive Floquet exponent, exponentially growing modes of the local instabilities that can cause the disruption of the AD. The equations of the inviscid fluid used to model the AD describe an oversimplified two-dimensional tidally-distorted accretion disk. Viscosity and the other properties expected in a CV AD are taken from the Shakura-Sunyaev α-disk solution and introduced in the model through the thermodynamical quantities present in the equations. In particular, we address this investigation in search of parametric resonances of the radial Fourier components of the velocity field in the multi-dimensional parameter space of the solutions describing a fluid stream in a CV AD: the mass of the primary M1, the orbital period p of the system, the orbital fiducial radius r of the fluid stream and the normalized Fourier mode of the radial motion, k. Results. We find that, in region of the r3:2 orbital resonance radius, where superhumps (SH) form, the m = 2 tidal epicyclic modes alone would not introduce any perturbation in this region of the AD, and therefore the Floquet exponent of the m = 2 tidal force is found to be either negative or zero. However, only by introducing the 3:1 tidal perturbation, will the dynamics of the fluid streams at the SH radius become unstable indicating the onset of SH. Finally, Floquet analysis of the Fourier decomposition of the derivative along the radial x-direction shows the important role of the low Fourier modes of the radial velocity perturbations in the disk truncation mechanism.
A modelling approach to evaluate potential management actions designed to increase growth of white perch in a high-density population

A deterministic, age-structured population model was developed to simulate potential management scenarios designed to increase growth of individuals (quantified by maximum length) in a hypothetical population of white perch, Morone americana (Gmelin). Four scenarios were developed that included non-selective mortality of adult white perch, increased mortality of age groups most influential on population growth, increased age-0 mortality and inhibiting recruitment after spawning. The greatest increase in maximum length occurred with non- selective adult mortality when population biomass was reduced by 97%; lesser increases in maximum length were achieved with the other management scenarios. Populations returned to their original state after control efforts ceased for each scenario.
Clonage positionnel de gènes prédisposant aux anomalies congénitales majeures dans l'espèce porcine

Les anomalies congenitales sont definies comme des defauts de structure ou de fonction presents a la naissance. Chez le porc, les anomalies les plus frequentes sont de type urogenital (hernie inguino-scrotale congenitale, cryptorchidie et intersexualite) et representent un probleme majeur pour l'industrie porcine (pertes economiques, atteinte au bien etre des animaux). Les etudes ayant montre qu'une part de leur determinisme etait genetique, l'identification des genes sous-jacents est devenue une priorite pour la filiere porcine. Les outils recents de genomique offrent la possibilite de rechercher, a l'echelle du genome, des regions chromosomiques associees a un caractere. Des analyses TDT (Transmission Disequilibrium Test) ont ete realisees a partir d'un dispositif de 200 familles nucleaires de descendants atteints, et ont permis d'identifier deux regions significativement associees aux maladies : une region localisee en extremite du chromosome X, significative pour les trois maladies etudiees, et une region sur le chromosome 12 associee a l'intersexualite. D'autres regions suggestives ont egalement ete mises en evidence pour la hernie et la cryptorchidie. Des travaux de cartographie physique et genetique sur le chromosome X ont montre que le signal significatif etait localise sur la region pseudo-autosomale porcine et qu'il correspondait a un biais de l'analyse, du au mode de segregation tres particulier de la region. L'absence de recombinaison a egalement ete observee pour un tiers du chromosome X, riche en motifs repetes. La region du chromosome 12 associee a l'intersexualite est une excellente region candidate car un seul gene y est annote et correspond a un des acteurs majeurs de la differenciation sexuelle chez le mâle. La cartographie fine de la region n'a pas permis la detection de mutation causale ou de CNV (Copie Number Variation) mais son implication dans le determinisme de l'intersexualite a ete confirmee. Les loci identifies pour les trois principales anomalies congenitales permettront de prevenir leur apparition dans les elevages porcins par selection assistee par marqueurs. De plus, ces resultats apportent des donnees nouvelles en genetique humaine.
Interpersonal Problem Solving in Alcoholics

In Study 1, a verbal role-playing test of interpersonal problem solving, the Adaptive Skills Battery (ASB), and selected “impersonal” neuropsychological problem-solving tests were given to male alcoholics (TV=73) in a VA alcohol treatment program and to male nonalcoholic controls (N=36). Alcoholics' ASB competency scores under a “give your typical response” instructional set were significantly lower than controls' scores. In response to a “give the very best response” set, ASB scores for alcoholics and controls did not differ. Alcoholics' interpersonal problem-solving deficits appear to be due to their less effective execution of cognitive or problem-solving skills as opposed to their capacities for such skills. A lack of correlation between performance on impersonal neuropsychological tests and performance on the ASB suggests that these areas of functioning involve quite different psychological processes. In Study 2, alcoholics with alcoholic family members (family history positive) were found to have lower ASB scores than family history negative alcoholics. “Best” ASB responses were positively correlated with therapists' ratings of treatment behaviors and treatment outcome; “typical” ASB responses were not. Thus, alcoholics' therapeutic progress was predicted by their conceptualization of the “best” response in the interpersonal problem-solving situations and not by their typical pretreatment response.
La viabilidad de erradicar la pobreza: un examen conceptual y metodológico

A consecuencia de los avances en los ultimos anos en la reduccion de la pobreza, los gobiernos de algunos paises de America Latina se han planteado como objetivo erradicar la pobreza en un futuro cercano y acotado temporalmente. Por esta razon, en este trabajo se realiza un analisis del significado y viabilidad de la meta de erradicacion de la pobreza, a la luz de la experiencia internacional y de los distintos enfoques conceptuales vigentes sobre un fenomeno complejo y multifactorial, y considerando la aptitud de las metodologias en boga para dar cuenta de esta “supresion” estadistica de los pobres. Esto en el marco de una realidad dinamica, en la que se conjugan funcionamientos institucionales y comportamientos personales que pueden dificultar la constatacion empirica de la meta de erradicacion de la pobreza.
Mechanisms of emmetropization in the aging eye.

Refraction and its components were measured on 96 subjects consisting of 48 Young Adults (19 to 31 years old) and 48 Mature Adults (49 to 61 years old) having refractive errors in the range from +2.50 to -2.50 D. Subjects for the two groups were matched on the basis of sex and refractive error. A quota sampling technique was used to obtain subjects for myopic, emmetropic, and hyperopic refractive-error categories. An autorefractor was used to measure refractive error, an autokeratometer was used to measure corneal radius of curvature, and an A-scan ultrasonometer was used to determine the axial dimensions. Crystalline lens radii were determined by submitting Purkinje image data to a ray-tracing program, with the assumption that the index of refraction of the ocular media is constant throughout life. By comparing the results for the two groups of subjects, it was found that there were no significant age-related differences in mean corneal radius of curvature or in mean axial length. However, the following significant age-related differences were found: the Mature Adult eyes had shallower anterior chambers, thicker lenses, shorter vitreous chambers, steeper anterior and posterior lens surfaces (shorter radii of curvature), more highly powered lenses, and higher ocular refracting power than the Young Adult eyes. It was concluded that a decrease in the gradient-index of the lens occurs with increasing age, acting as an emmetropizing mechanism by compensating for the steepening of both the front and back surfaces of the lens. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Heavy-Ion Induced Charge Yield in MOSFETs

The heavy-ion induced electron/hole charge yield in silicon-oxide versus electric field is presented. The heavy-ion charge yield was determined by comparing the voltage shifts of MOSFET transistors irradiated with 10-keV X-rays and several different heavy ions. The obtained charge yield for the heavy ions is in average nearly an order of magnitude lower than for the X-rays for the entire range of measured electric fields.
A new gene ontology‐based measure for the functional similarity of gene products

Background Although biomedical ontologies have standardized the representation of gene products across species and databases, a method for determining the functional similarities of gene products has not yet been developed. Methods We proposed a new semantic similarity measure based on Gene Ontology that considers the semantic influences from all of the ancestor terms in a graph. Our measure was compared with Resnik's measure in two applications, which were based on the association of the measure used with the gene co‐expression and the protein‐protein interactions. Results The results showed a considerable association between the semantic similarity and the expression correlation and between the semantic similarity and the protein‐protein interactions, and our measure performed the best overall. Conclusion These results revealed the potential value of our newly proposed semantic similarity measure in studying the functional relevance of gene products.
Some Metacomputing Experiences for Scientific Applications

We demonstrate good metacomputing efficiency and portability for three typical large-scale parallel applications; one molecular dynamics code and two electromagnetics codes. The codes were developed for distributed memory parallel platforms using Fortran77 or Fortran90 with MPI. The performance measurements were made for a testbed of two IBM SPs connected through the vBNS. No change of the application codes were required for correct execution of the codes on the testbed using the Globus Toolkit for the required metacomputing services. However, we observe that for good performance, it may be necessary for MPI codes to make use of overlapped computation and communication. For such MPI codes, a communications library designed for hierarchical or clustered communication can yield very good metacomputing efficiencies when high-performance networks, such as the vBNS or the Abilene networks, such as the vBNS or the Abilene networks, are used for platform connectivity. We demonstrate this by inserting a thin layer between the MPI application and the MPI libraries, providing some clustering of communications between platforms.
Loss of the Effector Function in a Transducin-α Mutant Associated with Nougaret Night Blindness*

A missense mutation, G38D, was found in the rod transducin α subunit (Gαt) in individuals with the Nougaret form of dominant stationary night blindness. To elucidate the mechanism of Nougaret night blindness, we have examined the key functional properties of the mutant transducin. Our data show that the G38D mutation does not alter the interaction between Gαtand Gβγt or activation of transducin by photoexcited rhodopsin (R*). The mutant Gαt has only a modestly (∼2.5-fold) reduced k cat value for GTP hydrolysis. The GTPase activity of GαtG38D can be accelerated by photoreceptor regulator of Gprotein signaling, RGS9. Analysis of the GαtG38D interaction with cGMP phosphodiesterase revealed marked impairment of the mutant effector function. GαtG38D completely fails to bind the inhibitory PDE γ subunit and activate the enzyme. Altogether, our results demonstrate a novel molecular mechanism in dominant stationary night blindness. In contrast to known forms of the disease caused by constitutive activation of the visual cascade, the Nougaret form has its origin in attenuated visual signaling due to loss of effector function by transducin G38D mutant.
Trace element levels in some dried fruit samples from Turkey

Trace element levels in nine different dried fruit samples from Kayseri, Turkey were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after dry and wet digestion methods. Good accuracy was assured by the analysis of standard reference material (NIST-SRM 1515-Apple Leaves). The contents of trace elements in the samples were determined in the ranges of 1.68–4.52, 0.6–9.4, 5.5–12.4, 6.76–64.1, 4.74–25.5, 0.2–1.78, 0.8–6.17 and 0.1–0.81 µg/g for copper, nickel, lead, iron, manganese, cobalt, chromium and cadmium, respectively. The highest copper content was 4.52 µg/g in black grape, highest nickel content was 9.4 µg/g in black plum, highest lead content was 12.4 µg/g in apricot, highest iron content was 64.1 µg/g in apricot, highest manganese content was 25.5 µg/g in rose hip, highest cobalt content was 1.81 µg/g in white mulberry, highest chromium content was 6.17 µg/g in yellow plum and highest cadmium content was 0.8 µg/g in apricot and rose hip. The results were compared with the literature values.
Functional Visitors Revisited

In object-oriented programming the visitor design pattern allows for the addition of new operations on a data hierarchy, but lends itself to scattered traversal code and makes visitors difficult to combine. Previous attempts to solve these issues have separated traversal code from the data structure but still face a lack of modularity in visitor computation making it difficult– if not impossible– to duplicate the flexibility of hand written, monolithic methods. In this paper we present a reformulation of the visitor pattern that introduces functional style traversals and visitor methods. Our modifications increase the context information available to visitor methods by way of the implicit stack of the recursive traversal, removing the need for side effects in visitor definitions. This gives visitors more flexibility during traversal, while their functional nature allows for modular, compositional solutions, leading to more reusable designs. To utilize these ideas we introduce a simple new functional visitor-oriented language, which allows us to build functional visitors without the syntax burdens of most object-oriented languages. To support visitor composition in our language we introduce five useful visitor combinators that can be used to develop self contained visitors and discuss motivating examples in our new language.
Cytomegalovirus Mutants Resistant to Ganciclovir and Cidofovir Differ in Susceptibilities to Synguanol and Its 6-Ether and 6-Thioether Derivatives

ABSTRACT The methylenecyclopropane nucleoside (MCPN) analogs synguanol and its 6-alkoxy (MBX2168) and 6-alkylthio (MBX1616) derivatives retained good in vitro activities against several common ganciclovir-resistant UL97 kinase variants of human cytomegalovirus. Foscarnet-MCPN cross-resistance was observed among UL54 polymerase variants. UL54 exonuclease domain ganciclovir-cidofovir dual-resistant variants were remarkably more hypersensitive to these MCPNs than to cyclopropavir, with some 50% effective concentration ratios that were <0.1× the wild type. Different categories of MCPNs may have therapeutically exploitable mechanistic differences in viral DNA polymerase inhibition.
Effects of Meat Recalls on Futures Market Prices

The number of meat recalls has increased markedly in recent years. This research examines the impact of beef and pork recall announcements on nearby daily live cattle and lean hog futures market prices, respectively. Results indicate medium-sized beef recalls that are of serious health concerns have a marginally negative impact on short-term live cattle futures prices. However, results are not robust across recall size and severity. This research suggests that if there is any systematic change in cattle and hog demand due to meat recalls, it likely occurs over an extended period of time and only in certain cases does it noticeably affect daily futures prices.
Gait planning and double support phase model for functional electrical stimulation-based walking

Joint or segment angle trajectories of able-bodied persons are often recorded or mimicked as reference trajectories for walking restoration in paraplegia. In this paper, lower limb segment angle trajectories are computed from simple mathematical models developed to represent functional electrical stimulation (FES) and a novel brace based walking. The new models incorporate the double support and single support phases of walking. Dynamic optimization is utilized to design walking trajectories that minimize muscle activations and arm reaction forces generated from the walker. Compared to the voluntary walking trajectories, the new trajectories are more representative of FES-based walking as only a limited number of muscle are stimulated to compute walking trajectories.
The biodiversity values of European virgin forests

What makes virgin forests better forests? Biodiversity evaluation depends on the value systems of the stakeholders involved. Indicators for conservation value, ecosystem functions, wilderness, uniqueness, or species richness may not correlate, or even correlate negatively. Based on arthropod data from a comparative study in two types of virgin forests in core areas of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve in Ukraine and managed forests in Switzerland with matching tree species composition, several biodiversity aspects and their underlying value systems are presented and discussed. There were no significant differences in species richness between virgin and managed forests. Most arthropod groups tended to be more divers in managed forests, while saproxylic beetles, and fungi, millipedes and molluscs were more divers in virgin forests. The most obvious assets of virgin forests in terms of biodiversity values are wilderness and uniqueness. The conservation value, focussing on rare and threatened species, seems to be of lesser importance in Central European virgin forests. Other values of forest biodiversity such as species richness and ecosystem functions are unsuitable for valorising virgin forests in comparison to managed forests.