Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A long-range pseudoknot in Qbeta RNA is essential for replication.

A puzzling aspect of replication of bacteriophage Qbeta RNA has always been that replicase binds at an internal segment, the M-site, some 1450 nt away from the 3' end. Here, we report on the existence of a long-range pseudoknot, base-pairing eight nt in the loop of the 3' terminal hairpin to a single-stranded interdomain sequence located about 1200 nt upstream, close to the internal replicase binding site. Introduction of a single mismatch into this pseudoknot is sufficient to abolish replication, but the inhibition is fully reversed by a second-site substitution that restores the pairing. The pseudoknot is part of an elaborate structure that seems to hold the 3' end in a fixed position vis a vis the replicase binding site. Our results imply that the shape of the RNA confers the functonality. We discuss the possible relevance of our findings for replication of other viral RNAs.
Stone tool production and utilization by bonobo-chimpanzees (Pan paniscus)

Using direct percussion, language-competent bonobo-chimpanzees Kanzi and Pan-Banisha produced a significantly wider variety of flint tool types than hitherto reported, and used them task-specifically to break wooden logs or to dig underground for food retrieval. For log breaking, small flakes were rotated drill-like or used as scrapers, whereas thick cortical flakes were used as axes or wedges, leaving consistent wear patterns along the glued slits, the weakest areas of the log. For digging underground, a variety of modified stone tools, as well as unmodified flint nodules, were used as shovels. Such tool production and utilization competencies reported here in Pan indicate that present-day Pan exhibits Homo-like technological competencies.
Interactive cognitive assessment and training support system for special children

Special children are children who experience learning difficulties. Special children include those under Down syndrome, autism, global delay, epilepsy and slow learner. In this study, the special children are referring to children with Down syndrome. Early intervention program is a systematic program with therapy, exercises, and activities which designed to help special children. Cognitive development is the construction of thought processes, including thinking, problem solving, concept understanding, and decision-making, from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. It is one of the most important skills that have to be developed for Down syndrome children. This study is focused mainly on development of the cognitive ability support system. The aim is to help them improving their logical thinking and memory skills. In brief, this study is about the development of software system for the cognitive ability. This includes the implementation of the radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and graphical user interface. The complete system is then test to ensure the accuracy of result, user acceptability and reliability of the system. The results show that the system can generate result in graphical form and training for improving the cognitive ability of the children. In conclusion, the system can be used in order to help trainers or parents to improve the cognitive ability of children with Down syndrome.
Economic optimization with environmental cost for a microgrid

This paper presents a generalized formulation for the optimal operation of a microgrid. Multiple-objective optimization is applied to the environmental/ economic problem of the MG, considering the operating cost, fuel cost, depreciation cost as well as environmental cost. Weight coefficient N is proposed to coordinate the proportion of generating cost objective and environmental cost objective. The optimization is aimed at minimizing the total cost of the system while satisfying the customer demand and system security. A detail case, in which the microgrid is consisting of a cluster of wind turbines, micro turbines, photovoltaic arrays and fuel cells, is discussed. And the results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach to satisfy the load and maximize the microgrid's interests.
Adrenal Incidentalomas: Clinical Controversies and Modified Recommendations.

OBJECTIVE A variety of imaging and clinical guidelines have been developed to assist radiologists and referring physicians in the workup of incidental adrenal masses. The objective of this article is to provide a concise review of incidental adrenal mass imaging and present the key differences between the available guidelines. CONCLUSION An alternative algorithm for the imaging and clinical workup of adrenal incidentalomas is presented in an attempt to bridge sometimes conflicting recommendations.
Effects of moderate consumption of red wine on platelet aggregation and haemostatic variables in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of moderate consumption of red wine on platelet aggregation and haemostatic variables, discriminating the effect of alcohol from that of non-alcoholic components. DESIGN A randomised crossover study. SETTING The Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Milan. SUBJECTS Eleven healthy male volunteers who were moderate drinkers. INTERVENTIONS For three periods of four weeks, subjects drank three different beverages [320 ml of red wine (providing 30 g/day of alcohol), 30 g/day of alcohol diluted in 320 ml of clear fruit juice or 320 ml of dealcoholised red wine] during the two main meals. Each treatment was preceded by a period of four weeks of complete withdrawal from any alcoholic beverage. At the end of each period platelet aggregation after collagen and ADP stimulus, and levels of fibrinogen, plasminogen, tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were determined. RESULTS Consumption for a period of four weeks of 30 g/day of alcohol either from red wine or alcohol resulted in similar decreases of collagen-induced platelet aggregation and fibrinogen levels. ADP-induced platelet aggregation, t-PA antigen, vWF and plasminogen levels were not affected by any treatment. No differences were detected when we compared platelet function and the other haemostatic variables at the end of red wine and dealcoholised treatments with findings at the end of alcohol treatment and abstinence. CONCLUSIONS The well known positive effect of moderate consumption of red wine on haemostasis seems due to alcohol and not to the non-alcoholic fraction present in red wine.
Compact Folded-Fin Tapered Slot Antenna for UWB Applications

In this letter, a novel antipodal tapered slot antenna (TSA) for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications is proposed. A folded fin structure is employed in the design for realizing wider bandwidth. Generally, UWB antennas have difficulty in its miniaturization because the lower-limit frequency reaches to 3.1 GHz. The lower-limit is determined by its total fin width. The folded fins realize both the lower limit and a compact size. We demonstrate the wideband characteristics in experiments. Its dispersion characteristic is also measured and discussed.
Whole-genome sequencing of bacterial sexually transmitted infections: implications for clinicians

Purpose of review Increasingly, genomics is being used to answer detailed clinical questions. Although genome analysis of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) lags far behind that of many other bacterial pathogens, genomics can reveal previously inaccessible aspects of pathogen biology. Recent findings Comparative genomic studies on the most common bacterial STI, chlamydia, have revolutionized our understanding of this intracellular bacterium, demonstrating that it undergoes extensive recombination and that the traditional typing schemes can be misleading. Genome projects can also help us to understand the recently observed phenomenon of ‘diagnostic escape’ seen in both Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Summary The routine use of genomics in clinical settings is becoming a reality. For STIs, a primary requirement is an understanding of the diversity of circulating strains and how they change over time. This can help to inform future studies and allow us to address real clinical issues such as outbreak identification, global spread of successful clones and antimicrobial resistance monitoring.
La prévalence de l'asthme et de la rhinite est-elle différente selon la présence d'un animal domestique ?

Introduction. Les etudes epidemiologiques recentes ont mis en evidence une augmentation de la prevalence de l'asthme et des maladies allergiques. Parmi les facteurs etiologiques etudies, l'environnement domestique en particulier les animaux domestiques ont souvent ete mis en cause. La relation entre symptomes, gravite de l'asthme et animaux domestiques reste incertaine. L'objectif de ce travail etait de determiner si l'exposition aux animaux domestiques chez les adolescents etait differente selon que l'on soit asthmatique ou rhinitique. Patients et Methodes. Dans le cadre de l'enquete ISAAC I (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood), 3 303 adolescents (13-14 ans) ont rempli un questionnaire standardise a Bordeaux en 1994. Il comportait des items sur l'asthme, la rhinite, l'eczema et l'environnement domestique. Quatre groupes ont ete constitues : les asthmatiques, les asthmatiques avec une rhinite, les sujets ayant une rhinite seule, et le groupe temoin n'ayant ni asthme ni rhinite. Resultats. 4,6% avaient un asthme isole. 43,2 % avaient une rhinite isolee. 10,3 % avaient un asthme et une rhinite. 41.7% n'avaient ni asthme ni rhinite. 34,9 % des sujets avaient un chat et 79,4 % d'entre eux laissaient rentrer le chat a l'interieur. Aucune modification de prevalence n'a ete retrouvee entre les quatre groupes, selon le type d'animal domestique (chat, chien, oiseaux ou autre), et cela que ceux-ci restent en dehors ou a l'interieur de la maison. La prevalence de l'asthme ancien etait de 45,8 %. La prevalence de l'asthme actuel etait de 50,3 %. Aucune difference significative n'a ete retrouvee la presence d'un animal domestique et l'anciennete de la maladie asthmatique d'une part, et la gravite de la maladie d'autre part. Conclusions. Il s'agit d'une etude epidemiologique en population generale basee sur l'utilisation d'un questionnaire. Les resultats suggerent que les sujets ayant un asthme ou une rhinite ont le meme comportement vis a vis des animaux domestiques que les sujets n'ayant a priori pas de maladies allergiques.
Ab initio calculation of the phonon dispersion in bulk InP and in the InP(110) surface.

An ab initio linear-response approach based on the density-functional theory has been used to investigate the dynamics of bulk InP and of the InP(110) surface. The plane-wave pseudopotential method together with the slab supercell description for the surface have been employed in order to determine the complete bulk phonon spectrum, the atomic geometry of the InP(110) surface, and the surface phonon dispersion in a consistent formalism. The calculated structural and dynamical properties of both the bulk and the surface compare very well with all available experimental data. Furthermore, we examine the influence of the structural details of InP(110) on the surface vibrational features. Our ab initio results indicate the fingerprints of the relaxation geometry in the surface phonon dispersion.
Physical Activity Recommendations for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Disease

Youth with low physical activity and fitness levels and high body fat levels are more likely to develop additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as elevated blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels. Participation in daily physical activity can reduce body fat, encourage weight loss, and improve aerobic fitness in youth without disabilities. Recent research involving youth with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, cystic fibrosis, asthma, diabetes, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and hemophilia suggest positive effects of exercise therapy upon the aerobic capacity, functional ability, and quality of life of children and adolescents with disabilities and chronic diseases. Strategies exist for introducing exercise as a lifelong intervention in pediatric populations with chronic diseases.
Rapid Inversion of the Prevalences of Macrolide Resistance Phenotypes Paralleled by a Diversification of T and emm Types among Streptococcus pyogenes in Portugal

ABSTRACT In Portugal erythromycin resistance of 26.6% (n = 352) remained constant during 1998 to 2003, however in 1998 the MLSB phenotype dominated (85%), whereas in 2003 the M phenotype prevailed (77%). A decline in T12/emm22 MLSB isolates could partially explain the drop in this phenotype, but the rise of the M phenotype was not due to clonal expansion.
[From automation to robotics].

The introduction of automation into the laboratory of biology seems to be unavoidable. But at which cost, if it is necessary to purchase a new machine for every new application? Fortunately the same image processing techniques, belonging to a theoretic framework called Mathematical Morphology, may be used in visual inspection tasks, both in car industry and in the biology lab. Since the market for industrial robotics applications is much higher than the market of biomedical applications, the price of image processing devices drops, and becomes sometimes less than the price of a complete microscope equipment. The power of the image processing methods of Mathematical Morphology will be illustrated by various examples, as automatic silver grain counting in autoradiography, determination of HLA genotype, electrophoretic gels analysis, automatic screening of cervical smears. Thus several heterogeneous applications may share the same image processing device, provided there is a separate and devoted work station for each of them.
On the Use of U-Slots in the Design of Dual-and Triple-Band Patch Antennas

The general method of using U-slots to design dual- and triple-band patch antennas is described. In this approach, one starts with a broadband patch antenna, which can consist of one or more patches. When a U-slot is cut in one of the patches, a notch is introduced into the matching band, and the antenna becomes a dual-band antenna. If another U-slot is cut in the same patch or in another patch, a triple-band antenna results. This method is applied to the L-probe-fed patch, the M-probe-fed patch, as well as the coaxially fed and aperture-coupled stacked patches. It is found that the patterns and gains of the dual-and triple-band antennas are similar to those of the original broadband antenna. Because the band notches introduced by the U-slots occur within the bandwidth of the antenna without slots, this method is suitable when the frequency ratios of the adjacent bands are small, usually less than 1.5.
Model-Based Approaches for Fast and Robust Fault Detection in an Aircraft Control Surface Servo Loop: From Theory to Flight Tests [Applications of Control]

Many innovative solutions have been developed by the aeronautical sector toward achieving the future "sustainable" aircraft that will be cleaner, quieter, smarter, and more affordable. Weight reduction is one of the most significant contributors to sustainability, as it improves aircraft performance (fuel consumption, noise, range) and consequently decreases its environmental footprint. This article deals with two challenging electrical flight control system (EFCS) failure cases, which may affect structural loading. A simple model-based approach is presented for the robust and rapid detection of such failures. The techniques were tested and validated at the Airbus test facility, and real flight tests have confirmed that a high level of performance and robustness can be obtained.
Lipopolysaccharide Engineering in Neisseria meningitidis

Background: LPS biosynthesis modification offers the potential to create detoxified variants with improved immunostimulatory properties. Results: Pentaacyl LPS molecules from pagL+ and lpxL1− meningococcal mutants were structurally characterized and found to activate human monocytic cells differentially. Conclusion: PagL-deacylated meningococcal LPS has potential for human immunopotentiation. Significance: These findings expand the knowledge on structure-function relationships of meningococcal LPS in relation to its immunomodulatory properties. Engineering the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthetic pathway offers the potential to obtain modified derivatives with optimized adjuvant properties. Neisseria meningitidis strain H44/76 was modified by expression of the pagL gene encoding lipid A 3-O-deacylase from Bordetella bronchiseptica and by inactivation of the lgtB gene encoding the terminal oligosaccharide galactosyltransferase. Mass spectrometry analysis of purified mutant LPS was used for detailed compositional analysis of all present molecular species. This determined that the modified LPS was mainly pentaacylated, demonstrating high efficiency of conversion from the hexaacyl to the 3-O-deacylated form by heterologous lipid A 3-O-deacylase (PagL) expression. MS analyses also provided evidence for expression of only one major oligosaccharide glycoform, which lacked the terminal galactose residue as expected from inactivation of the lgtB gene. The immunomodulatory properties of PagL-deacylated LPS were compared with another pentaacyl form obtained from an lpxL1− mutant, which lacks the 2′ secondary acyl chain. Although both LPS mutants displayed impaired capacity to induce production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in the monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6, induction of the Toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor-inducing interferon-β-dependent chemokine interferon-γ-induced protein 10 was largely retained only for the lgtB−/pagL+ mutant. Removal of remaining hexaacyl species exclusively present in lgtB−/pagL+ LPS demonstrated that these minor species potentiate but do not determine the activity of this LPS. These results are the first to indicate a qualitatively different response of human innate cells to pentaacyl lpxL1− and pagL+ LPS and show the importance of detailed structure-function analysis when working with modified lipid A structures. The pagL+ LPS has significant potential as immune modulator in humans.
Mapping genes for complex traits in founder populations

The advantages of inbred or founder populations for genetic studies were first noted over 30 years ago [1–3], but interest in these populations was renewed as a result of the explosion of molecular biological techniques and the initiation of the Human Genome Project [4,5]. The relatively small number of founders and recent ancestries that are characteristic of these populations facilitate the search for human disease genes and make them particularly amenable to novel analytic strategies. Founder populations have proven useful for mapping genes that underlie Mendelian disorders [e.g. 6– 10] and multigenic disorders that segregate as Mendelian conditions in specific populations [11,12]. Particular features of population history that are unique to these populations (discussed below) have advanced the search for Mendelian conditions and should facilitate the search for genes that influence susceptibility to complex traits. This paper reviews the features of founder populations that make them useful for mapping studies and discusses the analytical challenges that founder populations pose to geneticists mapping complex traits.
Traditional risk factors and ischemic stroke in young adults: the Baltimore-Washington Cooperative Young Stroke Study.

OBJECTIVE To determine the association of hypertension, diabetes, and cigarette smoking with incidence of ischemic stroke in young adults. DESIGN Case-control study. SETTING Population-based sample of cases and controls. SUBJECTS The study included 296 cases of incident ischemic stroke among black and white adults aged 18 to 44 years in central Maryland counties from the Baltimore-Washington Cooperative Young Stroke Study and 1220 black and white adults aged 18 to 44 years from the Maryland Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, a telephone survey of a random sample of the same region, to serve as controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Logistic regression models were developed to determine the age-adjusted odds ratios for each risk factor. Population-attributable risk percent were computed based on the odds ratios and prevalence of each risk factor. RESULTS The age-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for white men (WM), white women (WW), black men (BM), and black women (BW) were as follows: current cigarette smoking: WM, 2.0 (1.1-3.8), WW, 2.1 (1.1-4.3), BM, 3.3 (1.6-6.6), and BW, 2.2 (1.3-3.9); history of diabetes mellitus: WM, 22.9 (5.8-89.6), WW, 6.2 (1.9-20.2), BM, 4.2 (0.8-21.9), and BW, 3.3 (1.4-7.7); and history of hypertension: WM, 1.6 (0.7-3.2), WW, 2.5 (1.1-5.9), BM, 3.8 (1.8-7.9), and BW, 4.2 (2.4-7.5). The population-attributable risk percent (95% confidence intervals) were as follows: current cigarette smoking: WM, 22.6 (3.1-38.2), WW, 17.2 (4.0-34.0), BM, 40.5 (23.1-54.0), and BW, 29.1 (13.5-41.9); history of diabetes mellitus: WM, 19.0 (8.2-28.5), WW, 15.8 (3.8-26.3), BM, 13.2 (5.3-20.4), and BW, 22.1 (12.5-30.7); and history of hypertension: WM, 21.7 (6.2-34.6), WW, 21.3 (5.4-34.5), BM, 53.5 (39.0-64.4), and BW, 50.5 (37.1-61.1). CONCLUSIONS Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and current cigarette smoking are important risk factors in a biracial young adult population. Cigarette smoking and hypertension, the 2 most modifiable risk factors, were particularly important risk factors in young blacks.
Variational gravity data assimilation to improve soil moisture prediction in a land surface model

Accurate prediction of soil moisture in a land surface model (LSM) is critical in improving land surface and atmosphere interactions in the atmospheric general circulation models used in numerical weather prediction and global climate models. Gravity is a relatively new source of remotely sensed data, available since the launch of the twin Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites in March 2002. After correction for other signals, gravity provides a measure of terrestrial water storage (TWS) that includes soil moisture and groundwater. However, assimilating gravity data into a LSM to improve soil moisture prediction has not been widely investigated. A variational approach to assimilating gravity data is presented for one temperate site in south-east Australia (-35◦ latitude) for the year 2005. Parameters for the LSM are tuned to the site and forcing is compiled from local atmospheric observations. Gravity observations (corresponding to GRACE products) are synthetically generated from soil moisture and groundwater observations at the site. The model independent parameter optimiser PEST is used to determine initial conditions of soil moisture for a (monthly) moving window by minimising the modelled and observed gravity residual. The assimilated gravity observation is the difference of monthly gravity averages. The ability of variational assimilation to temporally and spatially disaggregate the lumped soil moisture signal present in gravity data is shown. Variational gravity data assimilation reduces predicted soil moisture (and TWS) bias when compared to the open loop predictions made with degraded LSM forcing data (Table 1). As well as reducing soil moisture bias, gravity data assimilation also improves the predicted soil moisture (and TWS) variance bringing it closer to the observed variance. While variational gravity assimilation retrieves the true (observed) soil moisture variance well, it cannot effectively correct the soil moisture bias in deeper layers resulting from A horizon (average depth of 30 cm) soil parameters being used throughout the profile (to a depth of4.6 m). It is believed that assimilation performance would improve significantly if more realistic model soil parameters were available. This paper is a proof of concept, that variational methods can be used to assimilate gravity into a land surface model and it does improve soil moisture predictions.