Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional analysis of walleye dermal sarcoma virus (WDSV).

Walleye dermal sarcoma virus (WDSV) is a complex retrovirus associated with dermal sarcomas of walleye that develop and regress on a seasonal basis. WDSV contains, in addition to gag, pol, and env, three open reading frames (ORFs) designated ORF A, ORF B, and ORF C. The polymerase chain reaction technique was used to amplify and clone cDNAs representing subgenomic viral mRNAs isolated from developing (fall) and regressing (spring) tumors. Nine different singly or multiply spliced viral transcripts were identified and all were found to utilize a common 5' leader sequence. This leader sequence is spliced to the pol/env junction or downstream of env to generate singly spliced transcripts. Multiply spliced transcripts contain the 5' leader, the pol/env junction, and sequences derived from the 3' end of the genome. One multiply spliced transcript was isolated with the potential to encode the full-length ORF A protein. In addition, WDSV produced mRNAs that utilize alternative splice acceptor sites which would allow synthesis of five variant forms of the ORF A protein. In contrast, the ORF B protein is postulated to arise from a singly spliced transcript with the potential to encode the entire open reading frame. Spliced subgenomic transcripts representing ORF C mRNAs were not identified, suggesting that ORF C may be encoded from the full-length viral genomic transcript. We estimate that at least a 100-fold lower amount of the accessory/regulatory subgenomic transcripts exists in developing vs regressing tumors. These results demonstrate that WDSV undergoes an elaborate pattern of mRNA splicing similar to that of other complex retroviruses.
Midterm survivorship and clinical outcome of INDUS knee prosthesis: 5 year followup study

Background INDUS knee implant has been designed as per the anatomical morphology of the Indian population and has shown good clinical outcome in short term studies. The purpose of the present study was to report the midterm survivorship and clinical outcome of this implant. Materials and Methods Two hundred and twenty three primary total knee arthroplasties in 209 consecutive patients using the INDUS knee prosthesis were prospectively enrolled. There were 145 females (155 knees) and 64 males (68 knees) with a mean age of 69.95 years (range 42–86 years). Annual followup with clinical and radiological examination was conducted, and a survivorship analysis was done using the Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results Mean followup was 5.8 years (range 5–6.5 years). Eleven patients died while eight were lost to followup and a total of 204 knees were available for followup. The mean knee flexion improved from preoperative 110.4° ± 11.24° (range 60°–130°) to 128.17° ± 8.32° (range 100°–140°) at the final followup. The mean knee score improved from 40.1 ± 10.7 to 90.3 ± 5.34 while the function score improved from 44.35 ± 12.9 to 89.58 ± 7.43. Two patient developed infection and required revision. The Kaplan–Meier analysis reported a survivorship of 98.6% (confidence interval 95.7–99.6%) at the end for 5 years for INDUS knee prosthesis. Conclusion INDUS knee prosthesis has excellent survivorship with a good clinical outcome and low failure rate.
Wide-Range Soft-Switching PWM Three-Level Combined DC–DC Converter Without Added Primary Clamping Devices

This paper proposes a novel wide-range soft-switching pulse-width modulation three-level (TL) combined dc-dc converter characterized with no added primary clamping devices and reduced output inductance value. It is well suited for high input voltage dc-dc industrial applications due to following desirable features: all the switches sustain half of the input voltage; off state voltage of the switches is directly clamped by the bulky input capacitors, and no added primary clamping devices such as clamping diodes, flying capacitors, are required; TL waveform before output filter can be achieved, which significantly reduces the value of the output inductance; the modified phase-shift control method can be utilized to achieve wide output range. The converter can obtain zero-voltage switching (ZVS) for all power switches in wide load range; furthermore, less conduction loss is added to achieve ZVS. The operation and theoretical analysis of the proposed converter are presented. Experiments are carried out to validate the proposed converter, and efficiency curves are tested and given.
Vascular calcification in ESRD: Another cloud appears in the perfect storm--but highlights a silver lining?

The horrendous cardiovascular consequences of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are multifactorial; metabolic, hypertensive, inflammatory, and electrolyte abnormalities that drive macrovascular disease processes result in the 20% annual mortality in our patients afflicted with ESRD1. Severe vascular calcification is highly characteristic of ESRD, a process that alters vascular compliance and inhibits physiologic regulation of blood flow and coagulation. At least four histoanatomic variants of macrovascular calcification—intimal, medial, valvular, and vascular tissue calciphylaxis—have emerged2. Once thought benign, the deleterious consequences of vascular calcification have become clear3. In the setting of diabetes, medial calcification portends increased cardiovascular mortality and risk of lower extremity amputation4. Aortic valve calcium content is the single best predictor of clinical progression in extant asymptomatic aortic stenosis5. In patients with ESRD, London et al6 have convincingly demonstrated that both medial and intimal calcification portend mortality risk. Molecular and histologic features of vascular osteogenesis are evident in the first three variants listed above2. Recapitulating features of bone marrow stromal cell physiology, vascular myofibroblasts contribute to cardiovascular calcification; along with dystrophic calcium deposition in dying cells and lipoprotein deposits, active endochondral and intramembranous ossification processes contribute to vascular calcium load. Mural myofibroblasts and Sca1+ progenitors—arising from medial and adventitial venues—are recruited in response to oxidized lipids, inflammation, and mechanical injury2. Paracrine vascular signals provided by bone morphogenetic protein-2, Wnts, parathyroid hormone–related polypeptide, osteopontin, osteoprotegerin, and fetuin complexes control calcium deposition, and are entrained to endocrine, metabolic, inflammatory, and mechanical cues2.
Chapter 7 Moral-Character Education

This chapter addresses one of the foundational issues that confront parents and educators: What is to be done about the moral character formation of children? Few would doubt that raising children of strong moral character is a highly desirable goal for socialization. Most parents would be disappointed if their children entered adulthood with only slight acquaintance with moral norms, dispositions, or emotions, or evinced these qualities only on occasion. But not only parents. The development of moral character is also a broadly shared goal that animates the work of socialization agents in every contextual setting that involves children, including schools and churches, youth organizations and other community institutions. Indeed, the concern over the proper induction of the younger generation by the older into the norms and canons of good conduct is probably a universal of the human experience.
Patch‐clamp Analysis of Synaptic Transmission to Cerebellar Purkinje Cells of Prion Protein Knockout Mice

The prion protein (PrP) plays a pivotal role in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies such as Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease in humans and scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy in animals. Previous experiments have suggested that the normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) is involved in synaptic function in the hippocampus. Here, we utilized the controlled recording conditions of the patch‐clamp technique to investigate the synaptic function of prion protein in cerebellar Purkinje cells. By performing whole‐cell and outside‐out patch‐clamp experiments in thin slices, we investigated synaptic transmission in prion protein knockout mice (PrP‐null) and control animals. In PrP‐null mice, the kinetics of GABA‐ and glutamate receptor‐mediated currents showed no significant deviation from those in control animals. In contrast to previous results in hippocampal neurons, our findings support the view that synaptic transmission is unimpaired in prion protein‐deficient mice.
A multicouple probe for temperature gradient measurements in biological materials.

An easy-to-make, sensitive, thin, flexible, multisensor probe for in vivo tissue temperature profile measurement is described. It is essentially a multijunction thermocouple (i.e., a multicouple) of type-T composition. Enamel-insulated copper wires (38 gauge) were soldered 5 mm apart to one common uninsulated constantan wire (36 gauge) and introduced into a polyethylene tube sealed at one end. The total outside diameter of the multicouple probe is less than 1 mm, and the maximum number of junctions using the specified wire sizes is approximately 16. This design permits the instantaneous measurement of a tissue temperature profile at 5-mm intervals over a distance of approximately 8 cm. An extensive calibration for the thermal conductivity effect (k effect) along the multicouple wires by means of a limb model is presented. The results show that the temperature readings of the individual junctions are significantly affected by the k effect when a thermal gradient exists along the multicouple, as is usually the case during tissue temperature measurements. However, calibration of the multicouple for the k effect yields a measurement accuracy of +/- 0.1 degree C under a wide range of gradients. This probe can be implanted in tissues to measure thermal gradients under different physiological conditions.
Sur la présence de Gobiidae (Poissons téléostéens) dans l'Oligocène inférieur de Rouffach (Haut-Rhin)

Die Neuarbeitung der fossilen Fische des Unteroligozans von Rouffach (Oberelsass), die von Sauvage (1883) als Paralates bleichen beschrieben wurden, fuhrt zum Schluss, dass es sich um Gobiidae handelt und zwar um die rezente Gattung Pomatoschistus Gill. Das Vorkommen dieser Fische in Rouffach scheint sowohl auf brackische Bedingungen als auf Meeresnahe zu deuten.
On (n,n-1) Punctured Convolutional Codes and Their Trellis Modules

It is known that an (n,n-1) non catastrophic antipodal punctured convolutional encoder of memory m is minimal. That is, the corresponding code cannot be produced by an encoder of smaller memory size. In this letter it is shown that the trellis module of a code produced by an (n,n-1) non catastrophic punctured convolutional encoder is optimum, if and only if the encoder is antipodal.
Beyond pleasure and arousal: appetitive erotic stimuli modulate electrophysiological brain correlates of early attentional processing

Previous studies investigating affective reactions to pictures that elicit a specific effect have mainly focused on the dimensions valence and arousal. Using an event-related picture-viewing paradigm in electroencephalography, we investigated whether erotica – that is appetitive, evolutionarily relevant stimuli – have effects on early stages of attentional processing that are distinct from those of other positive and arousing stimuli. Seventeen male students viewed arousing photos of erotic, nude women or pictures of extreme sport scenes, as well as control pictures of attractive, dressed women or daily activities. Erotic pictures differed from extreme sport pictures not only in late but also in early attentional processes, as indicated by event-related potentials appearing from 130 ms after stimulus onset (P1). The findings suggest (a) that the dimension of appetence should be considered in addition to valence and arousal when investigating psychophysiological reactions to affective–motivational stimuli and (b) that early attentional processing as mirrored by the P1 can be influenced by motivational systems.
Randomized double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of sublingual immunotherapy with a Pru p 3 quantified peach extract

Background: Peach allergy is highly prevalent in the Mediterranean area; it is persistent and potentially severe, and therefore a prime target for immunotherapy. We aimed to study the efficacy and safety of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with a peach extract quantified in mass units for Pru p 3, the peach lipid transfer protein.
A single chromoprotein with triple chromophores acts as both a phytochrome and a phototropin

Plants sense their environmental light conditions by using three photoreceptors that absorb in the UV, blue/near UV, and red/far-red spectral ranges. These photoreceptors have specific chromophore components corresponding to their absorption spectra. Phytochrome, a red/far-red light receptor, has phytochromobilin as its chromophore, whereas the blue/near UV photoreceptors cryptochrome and phototropin have a pair of flavin derivatives. Plants use these various photoreceptors to assess the surrounding light environment. Phytochrome 3 (PHY3) is a red light receptor found in some ferns, which preferentially grow under weak light. PHY3 is composed of a phytochrome chromophore-binding domain in its N-terminal portion and an almost full-length phototropin in its C-terminal half. This unusual domain organization implies that two different light-sensing systems coexist in this single photoreceptor, although these light-sensing systems usually reside in independent photoreceptors. Here, we show that PHY3 acts as a dual-channel photoreceptor that possesses both the red light-sensing system of phytochrome and the blue light-sensing system of phototropin. Furthermore, red- and blue-light signals perceived by PHY3 are processed synergistically within this single chromoprotein. These unusual properties might confer an enhanced light sensitivity on PHY3, allowing ferns to grow under a low-light canopy.
Monitoring of cardiac output and lung ventilation by Electrical Impedance Tomography in a porcine model of acute lung injury

Adequate medical treatment of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is still challenging since patient-individual aspects have to be taken into account. Lung protective ventilation and hemodynamic stability have always been two of the most crucial aims of intensive care therapy. For both aspects, a continuous - preferably non-invasive - monitoring is desirable that is available at the bedside. Unfortunately, there is no technique clinically established yet, that provides both measurement of cardiac stroke volume and ventilation dynamics in real-time. Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a promising technique to close this gap. The aim of the study was to investigate if stroke volume can be estimated by a self-developed software using EIT-based image analysis. In addition, two EIT-derived parameters, namely Global Inhomogeneity Index (GII) and Impedance Ratio (IR), were calculated to evaluate homogeneity of air distribution.
Cost‐Savings Analysis of AR‐V7 Testing in Patients With Metastatic Castration‐Resistant Prostate Cancer Eligible for Treatment With Abiraterone or Enzalutamide

Identification of cancer biomarkers that inform clinical decisions and reduce the use of ineffective therapies is a major goal of precision oncology. An abnormal splice variant of the androgen receptor, AR‐V7, was recently found to confer resistance to novel hormonal therapies (abiraterone and enzalutamide) in men with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), but did not negatively affect responses to taxane chemotherapies, suggesting that early use of chemotherapy may be a more effective option for AR‐V7(+) patients.
Assessment of Joule heating and its effects on electroosmotic flow and electrophoretic transport of solutes in microfluidic channels

Joule heating is inevitable when an electric field is applied across a conducting medium. It would impose limitations on the performance of electrokinetic microfluidic devices. This article presents a 3‐D mathematical model for Joule heating and its effects on the EOF and electrophoretic transport of solutes in microfluidic channels. The governing equations were numerically solved using the finite‐volume method. Experiments were carried out to investigate the Joule heating associated phenomena and to verify the numerical models. A rhodamine B‐based thermometry technique was employed to measure the solution temperature distributions in microfluidic channels. The microparticle image velocimetry technique was used to measure the velocity profiles of EOF under the influence of Joule heating. The numerical solutions were compared with experimental results, and reasonable agreement was found. It is found that with the presence of Joule heating, the EOF velocity deviates from its normal “plug‐like” profile. The numerical simulations show that Joule heating not only accelerates the sample transport but also distorts the shape of the sample band.
Template-based authoring of educational artifacts

The Walden's paths project is developing tools for leveraging student learning with the incredible amount of educational material on the Web. Specialized templates based on established educational frameworks, learning theories, or activities aid path authors in creating pedagogically sound paths by guiding them in collecting and structuring the information included in the path. We describe a template based on the inquiry-based learning educational framework and an implementation that provides support in applying the template to the path authoring process
Abnormally high neuronal density in the schizophrenic cortex. A morphometric analysis of prefrontal area 9 and occipital area 17.

BACKGROUND In the past two decades, gross morphologic changes have been uncovered in the schizophrenic brain, eg, increased ventricular width and decreased cortical volume; however, relatively little is known about the area-specific and laminar density of cells in the schizophrenic cortex, particularly in prefrontal areas. METHODS A direct, three-dimensional counting method was used to determine cell density in 16 brains from patients with schizophrenia, 19 from normal subjects, six from patients with schizoaffective disorder, and nine from patients with advanced-stage Huntington's disease. RESULTS Increased neuronal density was found in prefrontal area 9 (17%) and occipital area 17 (10%) in the schizophrenic brains. In area 9, neuronal density was increased in layers III to VI; cell packing of pyramidal and nonpyramidal neurons was elevated. Cortical thickness in the schizophrenic brains was slightly but not significantly reduced in both areas, with a disproportionate reduction in layer V in area 9. In contrast, brains with Huntington's disease exhibited markedly higher glial density (50%) and drastically reduced cortical thickness (28%). CONCLUSION Abnormally high density in the cerebral cortices of schizophrenics suggests that neuronal atrophy is the anatomic substrate for deficient information processing in schizophrenia.
Development of Dynamic Key Figures for the identification of Critical Components in Smart Factory Information Networks

Informational risks in smart factories arise from the growing interconnection of its components, the increasing importance of real-time accessibility and exchange of information, and highly dynamic and complex information networks. Thereby, physical production more and more depends on functioning information networks due to increasing informational dependencies. Accordingly, the operational capability of smart factories and their ability to create economic value heavily depend on its information network. Thus, information networks of smart factories have to be evaluated regarding informational risks as a first prerequisite for subsequent steps regarding the management of a smart factory. In this paper, we focus on the identification of critical components in information networks based on key figures that quantitatively depict the availability of the information network. To enable analyses regarding dynamic effects, the developed key figures cover dynamic propagation and recovery effects. To demonstrate their applicability, we investigate two possible threat scenarios in an exemplary information network. Further, we integrated the insights of two expert interviews of two global companies in the automation and packaging industry. The r sults indicate that the developed key figures offer a promising approach to better analyse and understand informational risks in smart factory information networks.
Snow wetness estimation based on Pol-SAR decomposition technique

Snow wetness is a very important parameter for forecasting snow avalanche and for snow melt run off modeling in cragged areas specifically for Himalayan regions of India. In this paper, a new snow wetness estimation approach is used for fully polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. In this new methodology, Freeman surface scattering and Cloude volume scattering components are introduced which account for all independent relative polarimetric phase parameters of the coherency matrix. Snow particle has been considered to be of spheroidal shape in volume scattering model. The estimated snow wetness is validated using the field data, which was collected, synchronized with the satellite pass. The results were also compared with the Shi and Dozier [1] inversion model based snow wetness estimation.