Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus spp.) on growth and arsenic uptake of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L.) from contaminated soil and water systems

Phytoremediation technology is emerging as a promising environment-friendly method for large-scale cleanup of arsenic (As) contaminated water and soil. In this study we investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF - Glomus spp.) on the growth of the vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L.) and its As uptake from contaminated hydroponic and soil systems. An ameliorative effect of the AMF inoculation in enhancing plants growth was found, mainly by stimulating the development of their root system. In addition, AMF-inoculated plants also took up more As from both contaminated systems compared to non-inoculated plants, although the differences were not always statistically significant (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, more efficient As uptake by vetiver grass from contaminated hydroponic solutions than spiked soils was observed, essentially because of the higher phytoavailability in the former contaminated system. Furthermore, plants grown hydroponically also translocated higher amounts of As from their roots to shoots. Therefore, the findings of this study reveals that the use of vetiver grass technology in conjunction with AMF would be more appropriate to decontaminate As-contaminated water than soils.
Slow light for microwave photonics applications

This paper focuses in slow light and its application in microwave photonics. It makes a brief review of microwave photonics evolution from its inception to new emerging topics. Subsequently, the principles, techniques, and applications of slow light in microwave photonics are addressed more in depth. Finally, the photonic crystal approach is presented as a promising approach to slow-light-based microwave photonics devices. The peculiar design flexibility of this approach is demonstrated with a series of simulations.
Presynaptic filament dynamics in homologous recombination and DNA repair

Homologous recombination (HR) is an essential genome stability mechanism used for high-fidelity repair of DNA double-strand breaks and for the recovery of stalled or collapsed DNA replication forks. The crucial homology search and DNA strand exchange steps of HR are catalyzed by presynaptic filaments—helical filaments of a recombinase enzyme bound to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). Presynaptic filaments are fundamentally dynamic structures, the assembly, catalytic turnover, and disassembly of which must be closely coordinated with other elements of the DNA recombination, repair, and replication machinery in order for genome maintenance functions to be effective. Here, we reviewed the major dynamic elements controlling the assembly, activity, and disassembly of presynaptic filaments; some intrinsic such as recombinase ATP-binding and hydrolytic activities, others extrinsic such as ssDNA-binding proteins, mediator proteins, and DNA motor proteins. We examined dynamic behavior on multiple levels, including atomic- and filament-level structural changes associated with ATP binding and hydrolysis as evidenced in crystal structures, as well as subunit binding and dissociation events driven by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We examined the biochemical properties of recombination proteins from four model systems (T4 phage, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Homo sapiens), demonstrating how their properties are tailored for the context-specific requirements in these diverse species. We proposed that the presynaptic filament has evolved to rely on multiple external factors for increased multilevel regulation of HR processes in genomes with greater structural and sequence complexity.
A Cloud-based Framework for Personalized Mobile Learning Provisioning using Learning Objects Metadata Adaptation

With the proliferation of Internet-capable mobile handheld devices and the availability of wireless broadband networks, mobile learning is increasingly adopted to deliver learning content anywhere and anytime to mobile users. Offering compelling mobile learning solutions faces several challenges. These challenges are mainly the adaptation of the learning material to the profile and preferences of the mobile user and the support of multiple devices. Other concerns include the storage, retrieval, and processing of learning content outside of mobile devices. Furthermore, building rich learning management systems requires the integration of learning content from third party providers. This paper describes our proposed cloud-based framework for delivering adaptive mobile learning services. The paper explains the benefits and requirements of cloud-based solutions for educational organizations, and describes the components of the proposed framework together with the process of integrating learning objects imported from third-party providers with in-house learning objects of the educational organization.
Plasmid-associated virulence of Salmonella typhimurium

We investigated the role of the 100-kilobase (kb) plasmid of Salmonella typhimurium in the virulence of this organism for mice. Three strains, LT2-Z, SR-11, and SL1344, which possessed 100-kb plasmids with identical restriction enzyme digestion profiles, were cured of their respective 100-kb plasmids after Tnmini-tet was used to label plasmids. Curing wild-type virulent strains SR-11 and SL1344 raised peroral 50% lethal doses from 3 x 10(5) and 6 x 10(4) CFU, respectively, to greater than 10(8) CFU. Both wild-type strains had intraperitoneal 50% lethal doses of less than 50 CFU, whereas the intraperitoneal 50% lethal doses for cured SR-11 and SL1344 were less than 50 and 400 CFU, respectively. Reintroduction of the Tnmini-tet-labeled, 100-kb plasmid restored wild-type virulence. Invasion from Peyer's patches to mesenteric lymph nodes and spleens after peroral inoculation was the stage of pathogenesis most affected by curing S. typhimurium of the 100-kb plasmid. Wild-type S. typhimurium replicated in spleens of mice inoculated intravenously to a greater extent than did plasmid-cured derivatives. Wild-type and cured strains equally adhered to and invaded Henle-407, HEp-2, and CHO cells; furthermore, the presence of the 100-kb plasmid was not necessary for replication of S. typhimurium within CHO cells. The 100-kb plasmid had no effect on phagocytosis and killing of S. typhimurium by murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro and in vivo. Similarly, wild-type and plasmid-cured strains were resistant to killing by 90% normal human, rabbit, and guinea pig sera. All wild-type and plasmid-cured S. typhimurium strains possessed complete lipopolysaccharide, as determined by silver staining solubilized cells in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. We have confirmed the role of the 100-kb plasmid of S. typhimurium in virulence, primarily in invasion to mesenteric lymph nodes and spleens after peroral inoculation of mice. Involvement of the 100-kb plasmid in infection of mesenteric lymph nodes and spleens suggests a role for the plasmid in the complex interaction of S. typhimurium with cells of the reticuloendothelial system.
Near field analysis and field transformation applied to a parabolic profile at 5GHz

We proposed a method of analysis and field transformation is applied to a 1.5 m diameter parabolic reflector at a frequency of 5 GHz, an antenna of these dimensions requires at least a 75 m region to obtain its radiation pattern, and this represents a problem, here arises the necessity to make field transformations like the one presented in this work. Near field is modeled by means of Finite Difference Time Domain Method (FDTD) and current distribution is obtained using the discrete Pocklington equation. Radiation pattern is calculated applying the array factor for parabolic profiles. Results are compared with those obtained by CST Microwave Studio with a very good agreement.
Impaired cardiopulmonary parameters in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome

© 2006 The Authors Journal compilation © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Clinical Endocrinology , 66 , 148–153 images, and showed moderate and uniform enhancement after intravenous contrast, all commonly seen features of a meningioma. The absence of bony destruction and well defined margins of the lesions suggested a benign process. The lesion in the posterior fossa on the right side abutted the tentorium cerebelli and was associated with enhancement of the adjacent tentorium, consistent with a ‘dural tail’ commonly seen with meningioma. Metastatic pituitary tumours have generally been reported to be isointense to grey matter on T1-weighted MRI images and to have inhomogeneously high signal intensity on T2-weighted images, similar to primary pituitary adenomas. 5
LP805X: A customizable and low power 8051 soft core for FPGA applications

In today's advanced technological age, embedded and real time systems have become ubiquitous, covering a wide range of applicability. As a result there is an ever growing need for low power capabilities along with reasonable performance, thus presenting a virtual demand for power-aware devices. The purpose of this work was leveraging key techniques and technologies such as design laziness, componentware design, generative design, separation of mechanism and policy, voltage-frequency island, state encoding, clock gating, and operand isolation, and then investigating their effects while designing an energy and power-conscious microcontroller based on 8051 ISA (Instruction Set Architecture) without disregard to silicon area, required application functionalities and performance. Simulations show that our purposed 2 stage pipeline system with built-in hybrid scheduler operates at 230μW@1MHz.
Alcohol modulation of single GABAA receptor‐channel kinetics

ALCOHOL modulation of single-channel kinetics of GABAA receptor currents was studied with rat dorsal root ganglion neurons using the excised outside-out patch clamp technique. GABA (1 μM) alone or GABA (1 μM) plus ethanol (30–300 mM) or n-Octanol (30–300 μM) were applied by pressure ejection to evoke single-channel currents. The main single-channel conductance was not changed by either ethanol or n-Octanol at 25 pS. Both alcohols exerted the same effects on the single-channel kinetics, although n-Octanol was more potent than ethanol. The frequency of openings, the mean open time, the percentage of open time, the frequency of bursts, and the mean burst duration were all increased, but the mean closed time was decreased. These changes in channel kinetics account for the increase in whole-cell current amplitude caused by ethanol and n-Octanol.
0.3 V supply, 17 ppm/°C 3-transistor picowatt voltage reference

In this work a novel resistorless MOSFET 3-transistor voltage reference that operates in the picowatt range and occupies very small area is proposed. The circuit is based on a self-cascode structure that is biased in subthreshold condition using the leakage current provided by a reverse biased MOSFET diode. Its electrical behavior is analytically described and a design methodology is presented to allow the transistors sizing for optimal temperature compensation. Simulation results for a standard 130 nm CMOS process are presented to validated the proposed circuit topology. A reference voltage of 85 mV is obtained with a temperature coefficient (TC) of 17.4 ppm/°C and consuming only 7 pW under 0.3 V of power supply at room temperature. Monte Carlo analysis shows that the reference voltage σ/μ<; 3.3% and that 90% of the samples present TC<;50 ppm/°C without trimming.
Impact of a Spacer Dielectric and a Gate Overlap/Underlap on the Device Performance of a Tunnel Field-Effect Transistor

A tunnel field-effect transistor (TFET) for which the device operation is based upon a band-to-band tunneling mechanism is very attractive for low-power ultralarge-scale integration circuits. A detailed investigation, with the help of extensive device simulations, of the effects of a spacer dielectric on the device performance of a TFET is reported in this paper. The effects of varying the dielectric constant and width of the spacer are studied. It is observed that the use of a low- dielectric as a spacer causes an improvement in its on-state current. The device performance is degraded with an increase in the spacer width until a certain value (~30 nm); after which, the dependence becomes very weak. The effects of varying the source doping concentration as well as the gate overlap/underlap are also investigated. Higher source doping or a gate-source overlap reduces the spacer dependence of the device characteristics. A gate underlap structure, however, shows an improved performance for a high- spacer. For a given spacer, although a gate overlap or a relatively large gate underlap degrades the device performance, a small gate underlap shows an improvement in it.
Emotional intelligence: the context for successful Nursing leadership: a literature review

Background: A leader is the stronghold of any organization and leadership styles have evolved and transformed along with mankind. Leadership styles have varied from one-dimensional model to multidimensional models. From static styles practiced in the past to dynamic styles in the current contemporary world. Nursing leaders have mirrored the leadership styles adopted in their tenure of practice. The dynamism in the current worldwide scenario, has favoured the nursing leaders to adopt emotional intelligence in their practice. Emotionally intelligent nursing leadership style has been successfully implemented palliative care, oncology and mental health settings.
Société rurale et réaménagement agricole dans le Ségala tarnais

Dans le Segala tarnais, la structure de la societe rurale (masse de moyens et petits exploitants sans disponibilites financieres, isolement materiel et psychologique en partie lie a l'habitat disperse, persistance du faire-valoir direct) est, pour une large part, responsable de la crise agricole (maintien de la polyculture traditionnelle assurant une place trop large a l'autoconsommation, exode rural). Les exploitations bien equilibrees sont rares (16% du total environ). La masse des petits et moyens exploitants (50 % du total) se trouve dans une situation critique. Toute tentative de reamenagement doit porter sur cette categorie. Cependant, le reboisement progresse ; il favorise l'abandon des terres sans, pour l'instant, offrir de compensation.
In vitro processing of dengue virus structural proteins: cleavage of the pre-membrane protein

Processing of dengue virus structural proteins was assessed in vitro. RNA transcripts for cell-free translation were prepared from cloned DNA (dengue virus type 4, strain 814669 genome) encoding capsid, pre-membrane (prM), and the first 23 amino acids of envelope (E). Processing of a 33-kilodalton precursor polypeptide encoded by wild-type RNA transcripts occurred only in the presence of added microsomal membranes. Under these conditions, cleavage at the capsid-prM and prM-E sites and glycosylation of prM occurred in association with translocation. Amino acid sequence analysis confirmed that translation initiated at the predicted N terminus of the capsid and that capsid-prM cleavage occurred at the predicted site for the action of signal peptidase following a candidate signal sequence (hydrophobic residues 100 to 113) in the dengue virus precursor. Mutations were introduced into the dengue virus DNA template by site-directed mutagenesis, altering nucleotide sequences encoding the capsid and the candidate signal for prM. The phenotypes of the mutants were deduced by analysis of the products of cell-free translation of the respective RNA transcripts. The resulting observations confirmed that cleavage at the capsid-prM and prM-E sites is effected entirely by signal peptidase and that the candidate signal is required for translocation.
How to Download More Data from Neighbors? A Metric for D2D Data Offloading Opportunity

Mobile devices in close proximity can be connected in a device-to-device (D2D) manner to transfer digital objects (e.g., videos) to each other. By using D2D data offloading, mobile users can reduce the cost for data service from wireless cellular networks. However, due to users’ mobility, the opportunity for a user to obtain his interested objects via D2D communication is transient. In this paper, we first propose an expected available duration (EAD) metric to evaluate the opportunity that an object can be downloaded by a user via D2D data offloading. The EAD metric takes into account the pairwise connectivity of users, social influence between users, diffusion of digital objects, and the time that users would like to wait for D2D data offloading. We then propose a distributed algorithm for a mobile device to determine the EAD of each object. Given a set of available objects in the neighborhood, a mobile device will first download the object that has the smallest EAD. We validate our model via trace-driven simulations. Results show that our proposed algorithm can effectively find the object that should be first downloaded. Comparing with existing schemes, our work can help users download more data via D2D data offloading.
45 GHz highly integrated phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer in SiGe bipolar technology

This paper presents a highly integrated 45 GHz phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer. The monolithic circuit consists of a voltage-controlled oscillator with frequency doubler and divide-by-16 static frequency divider and is manufactured in a pre-production low-cost 0.4 /spl mu/m/85 GHz SiGe bipolar technology. The power consumption is 650 mW from the 5 V supply. External synthesizer building blocks are a commercially available PLL-IC, a passive loop filter, and a reference oscillator.
Secretion of predicted Inc proteins of Chlamydia pneumoniae by a heterologous type III machinery

Chlamydia spp. are strictly intracellular pathogens that grow inside a vacuole, called an inclusion. They possess genes encoding proteins homologous to components of type III secretion machineries, which, in other bacterial pathogens, are involved in delivery of bacterial proteins within or through the membrane of eukaryotic host cells. Inc proteins are chlamydial proteins that are associated with the inclusion membrane and are characterized by the presence of a large hydrophobic domain in their amino acid sequence. To investigate whether Inc proteins and other proteins exhibiting a similar hydropathic profile might be secreted by a type III system, we used a heterologous secretion system. Chimeras were constructed by fusing the N‐terminal part of these proteins with a reporter, the Cya protein of Bordetella pertussis, and these were expressed in various strains of Shigella flexneri. We demonstrate that these hybrid proteins are secreted by the type III secretion system of S. flexneri, thereby providing evidence that IncA, IncB and IncC are secreted by a type III mechanism in chlamydiae. Moreover, we show that three other proteins from Chlamydia pneumoniae, all of which have in common the presence of a large hydrophobic domain, are also secreted by S. flexneri type III secretion machinery.
Machine assisted proofs of properties of Avalon programs

Proving the correctness of programs by hand is hard and error-prone. How can mechanical theorem proving aids such as the Larch Prover (LP) help in the proofs of complex programs? We address this question by applying LP, a proof checker based on rewrite-rule theory, to the proof of an Avalon/C-Hprogram. Avalon/C++ is a programming language that supports concurrency and fault-tolerance through transaction-based computations. Since reasoning about an Avalon/C++ program requires reasoning about histories, i.e., sequences of operations, and not just initial and final states, proofs of correctness are non-trivial. For the Avalon/C++ queue example, we present a formal Larch Shared Language specification, which we also used as input to LP. We discuss the LP-assisted proofs we performed of the representation invariant and the queue's key correctness condition, give detailed statistics of our proofs, and draw some conclusions based on our experience with LP. © 1989 J.M. Wing and C. Gong This research was sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DOD), ARPA Order No. 4976, monitored by the Air Force Avionics Laboratory Under Contract No. F33615-87-C-1499. Additional support was provided in part by the National Science Foundation under grant CCR-8620027. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the National Science Foundation or the U.S. Government. Machine-Assisted Proofs of Properties of Avalon Programs Jeannette M. Wing and Chun Gong
Program analysis with dynamic instrumentation Pin and performance tools

In this paper we presented comparative analysis of sequential and parallel MPI application with dynamic instrumentation based Pin tool that can be used to assist in performance analysis of various parallel algorithms and computer software programs. We discussed various profiling and optimization tools apart from Pin and dynamic instrumentation techniques through which code can be analyzed, compared and monitored. A brief comparison of the cache analysis is also discussed with some considerations in order to highlight the approaches and technologies used by pin tool to achieve the optimum performance of an application.
Record of the rare Caribbean mud eel, Pythonichthys sanguineus (Heterenchelyidae, Anguilliformes), in the region of the Amazon Reef

ABSTRACT As they spend most of their time buried in the substrate and are not a fishery resource, heterenchelyids are seldom seen. These eels are characterized by their greatly reduced eyes, which are covered by semi-transparent skin, the absence of a pectoral fin or lateral line, and no pores on the head or body. Pythonichthys sanguineus is a particularly poorly-known species, with only eight scientific records from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname. The present study is based on six adult specimens of P. sanguineus captured by vessels of the shrimp trawling fleet along the northern Brazilian coast, in the vicinity of the Amazon Reef. We provide meristic, morphometric and DNA barcoding data. These findings provide insights into the distribution of the species off the northern Brazilian coast and contribute to the discussion about the southern limit of the Greater Caribbean fauna.
Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Associated with Vinorelbine Therapy

OBJECTIVE: To describe onset of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) associated with vinorelbine therapy for advanced breast cancer. CASE SUMMARY: A 50-year-old white woman with a history of advanced breast cancer refractory to other treatment modalities was receiving vinorelbine. Blood chemistries revealed severely depleted sodium and potassium concentrations from a normal baseline within a 7-day period. A recheck of blood chemistries confirmed hyponatremia. The patient was admitted to the hospital and treated for SIADH. After successful treatment, she was given demeclocycline prophylactically and rechallenged with vinorelbine without recurrence of the syndrome. DISCUSSION: SIADH has been reported as a complication of treatment with vinca alkaloids. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this syndrome related to vinorelbine therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Because of its structural similarity to the other vinca alkaloids, vinorelbine is believed to be responsible for SIADH in our patient. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility that vinorelbine may cause SIADH and possibly hypokalemia.