Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global Survey of Canonical Aspergillus flavus G Protein-Coupled Receptors

ABSTRACT G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are transmembrane receptors that relay signals from the external environment inside the cell, allowing an organism to adapt to its surroundings. They are known to detect a vast array of ligands, including sugars, amino acids, pheromone peptides, nitrogen sources, oxylipins, and light. Despite their prevalence in fungal genomes, very little is known about the functions of filamentous fungal GPCRs. Here we present the first full-genome assessment of fungal GPCRs through characterization of null mutants of all 15 GPCRs encoded by the aflatoxin-producing fungus Aspergillus flavus. All strains were assessed for growth, development, ability to produce aflatoxin, and response to carbon sources, nitrogen sources, stress agents, and lipids. Most GPCR mutants were aberrant in one or more response processes, possibly indicative of cross talk in downstream signaling pathways. Interestingly, the biological defects of the mutants did not correspond with assignment to established GPCR classes; this is likely due to the paucity of data for characterized fungal GPCRs. Many of the GPCR transcripts were differentially regulated under various conditions as well. The data presented here provide an extensive overview of the full set of GPCRs encoded by A. flavus and provide a framework for analysis in other fungal species. IMPORTANCE Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic pathogen of crops and animals, including humans, and it produces a carcinogenic toxin called aflatoxin. Because of this, A. flavus accounts for food shortages and economic losses in addition to sickness and death. Effective means of combating this pathogen are needed to mitigate its deleterious effects. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are often used as therapeutic targets due to their signal specificity, and it is estimated that half of all drugs target GPCRs. In fungi such as A. flavus, GPCRs are likely necessary for sensing the changes in the environment, including food sources, developmental signals, stress agents, and signals from other organisms. Therefore, elucidating their functions in A. flavus could identify ideal receptors against which to develop antagonists. Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic pathogen of crops and animals, including humans, and it produces a carcinogenic toxin called aflatoxin. Because of this, A. flavus accounts for food shortages and economic losses in addition to sickness and death. Effective means of combating this pathogen are needed to mitigate its deleterious effects. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are often used as therapeutic targets due to their signal specificity, and it is estimated that half of all drugs target GPCRs. In fungi such as A. flavus, GPCRs are likely necessary for sensing the changes in the environment, including food sources, developmental signals, stress agents, and signals from other organisms. Therefore, elucidating their functions in A. flavus could identify ideal receptors against which to develop antagonists.
Skewing the Odds: Strategic Risk Taking in Contests

We study contests where, subject only to a capacity constraint on mean performance, contestants compete for identical prizes by choosing random performance levels. The capacity constraint combined with the rank-contingent rewards makes win-small/lose-big strategies optimal. Equilibrium strategies are generally skewed but never risk maximizing. When capacity is known and symmetric, we derive a closed-form solution for the game and analyze the effects of contest selectivity and size on equilibrium outcomes. We next consider contests where capacity is private information and show that, contrary to the risk-taking-and-ruin intuition, weak contestants do not always gamble on high-risk strategies. In fact, when the capacities of weak and strong contestants differ sufficiently, weak contestants choose low-variance performance distributions that never top strong contestants' performance, ensuring that the equilibrium is perfectly selection efficient. Finally, we consider the implications of our analysis for mutual fund tournaments, R&D competition, and stochastic contests.
On Selection of Rotor Support Material for a Ferrite Magnet Spoke-Type Traction Motor

Interior permanent-magnet motors with ferrite magnets and distributed windings can be a cost-effective alternative to rare-earth magnet-based motors for demanding applications such as automotive traction. Among different rotor topologies, the spoke type may be preferred, due to its advantages for high flux concentration and resistance to demagnetization, when carefully designed. When high-speed operation is required, to increase the power density of the motor, the spoke-type rotor must comprise two sections: 1) the ferromagnetic rotor pole to provide the path for the magnetic flux; and 2) the nonmagnetic rotor support to provide the structural integrity. In this paper, the multiphysics and cost implications of the rotor support material, as part of a high-performance ferrite magnet traction motor, are analyzed, and an optimal selection with respect to those criteria is proposed. The performance of the design based on the proposed rotor support material is validated by electromagnetic and structural testing of three sets of customized prototypes. Based on the analysis, the proposed rotor support material may, significantly, boost the cost competitiveness of a low-cost ferrite motor for high-volume production.
Fruit and Vegetable Pricing by Demographic Factors in the Birmingham, Alabama, Metropolitan Area, 2004-2005

Introduction Fruit and vegetable cost may influence consumption. Because the contextual environment influences food outlet type and availability, we wanted to determine whether neighborhood demographics were associated with prices of fruits and vegetables. Methods We surveyed 44 grocery stores in the Birmingham, Alabama, metropolitan area to determine prices of 20 fruits and vegetables. Stores were geocoded and linked to the corresponding Census 2000 block group to obtain data for the independent variables — percentage African American, percentage with at least a high school diploma, and percentage of households below the poverty level. We conducted multiple linear regressions to estimate these predictors for each fruit and vegetable's mean price per serving during 2 seasons (fall/winter 2004, spring/summer 2005). Results In the fall, we found no significant relationships between the predictors and prices of any fruits and vegetables in the survey. In the spring, the percentage who had at least a high school diploma was a predictor of price per serving for potatoes (β = 0.001, P = .046). Conclusion Neighborhood demographics have little consistent influence on fruit and vegetable prices in Birmingham, Alabama, which may be a function of grocery store density, transportation patterns, and shopping patterns. The regional setting of the food environment has implications for food availability, variety, and price.
Culturally Contested Pedagogy: Battles of Literacy and Schooling between Mainstream Teachers and Asian Immigrant Parents

Li’s Culturally Contested Pedagogy: Battles of Literacy and Schooling between Mainstream Teachers and Asian Immigrant Parents is based on her longitudinal research in Richmond, the suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where there are a great number of Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong. The research was conducted in two combined classrooms in an elementary school where 85% of the students were Chinese children learning English as a second language. The study involved the school principal, two mainstream teachers, one teacher assistant, one English as a Second Language teacher, and eight focal Chinese students and their parents who are the first generation immigrants.
Real Option Valuation vs. DCF Valuation - An application to a North Sea oilfield

We examine whether the value of an undeveloped oilfield is affected by using real option valuation. Applying a two-factor model dependent on the spot price of Brent and the convenience yield implies a premium over the certainty equivalent method ranging from 20-1000%, for reasonable spot prices. However, the premium over the risk-adjusted method can be negligible since values are dependent on the spot price forecasts of managers.This does not mean that the option criterion should be neglected, considering its implications for the strategic decision of when to optimally invest. The risk-adjusted approach suggests that investment is optimal whenever oil prices surpass $15.69 per barrel, whereas the real option analysis suggests production at prices above $26.72. Moreover, we find evidence of a positive market price of convenience yield risk on the IPE, strongly disagreeing with economic theory.
Intracellular Networks of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK Pathways for Regulating Toxoplasma gondii-Induced IL-23 and IL-12 Production in Human THP-1 Cells

Interleukin (IL)-23 and IL-12 are closely related in structure, and these cytokines regulate both innate and adaptive immunity. However, the precise signaling networks that regulate the production of each in Toxoplasma gondii-infected THP-1 monocytic cells, particularly the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways, remain unknown. In the present study, T. gondii infection upregulated the expression of IL-23 and IL-12 in THP-1 cells, and both cytokines increased with parasite dose. IL-23 secretion was strongly inhibited by TLR2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment in a dose-dependent manner and by TLR2 siRNA transfection, whereas IL-12 secretion was strongly inhibited by TLR4 mAb treatment dose-dependently and by TLR4 siRNA transfection. IL-23 production was dose-dependently inhibited by the PI3K inhibitors LY294002 and wortmannin, whereas IL-12 production increased dose-dependently. THP-1 cells exposed to live T. gondii tachyzoites underwent rapid p38 MAPK, ERK1/2 and JNK activation. IL-23 production was significantly upregulated by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 dose-dependently, whereas pretreatment with 10 μM SB203580 significantly downregulated IL-12 production. ERK1/2 inhibition by PD98059 was significantly downregulated IL-23 production but upregulated IL-12 production. JNK inhibition by SP600125 upregulated IL-23 production, but IL-12 production was significantly downregulated dose-dependently. T. gondii infection resulted in AKT activation, and AKT phosphorylation was inhibited dose-dependently after pretreatment with PI3K inhibitors. In T. gondii-infected THP-1 cells, ERK1/2 activation was regulated by PI3K; however, the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and JNK was negatively modulated by the PI3K signaling pathway. Collectively, these results indicate that IL-23 production in T. gondii-infected THP-1 cells was regulated mainly by TLR2 and then by PI3K and ERK1/2; however, IL-12 production was mainly regulated by TLR4 and then by p38 MAPK and JNK. Our findings provide new insight concerning the intracellular networks of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling cascades for regulating T. gondii-induced IL-23 and IL-12 secretion in human monocytic cells.
Mutable elastic models for sculpting structured shapes

In this paper, we propose a new paradigm for free‐form shape deformation. Standard deformable models minimize an energy measuring the distance to a single target shape. We propose a new, “mutable” elastic model. It represents complex geometry by a collection of parts and measures the distance of each part measures to a larger set of alternative rest configurations. By detecting and reacting to local switches between best‐matching rest states, we build a 3D sculpting system: It takes a structured shape consisting of parts and replacement rules as input. The shape can subsequently be elongated, compressed, bent, cut, and merged within a constraints‐based free‐form editing interface, where alternative rest‐states model to such changes. In practical experiments, we show that the approach yields a surprisingly intuitive and easy to implement interface for interactively designing objects described by such discrete shape grammars, for which direct shape control mechanisms were typically lacking.
Role of oocyte-derived paracrine factors in follicular development

Mammalian oocytes secrete transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily proteins, such as growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) and BMP15, and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). These oocyte-derived paracrine factors (ODPFs) play essential roles in regulating the differentiation and function of somatic granulosa cells as well as the development of ovarian follicles. In addition to the importance of individual ODPFs, emerging evidence suggests that the interaction of ODPF signals with other intra-follicular signals, such as estrogen, is critical for folliculogenesis. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of the role of ODPFs in follicular development with an emphasis on their interaction with estrogen signaling in regulation of the differentiation and function of granulosa cells.
Making the most of high inflation

This article examines the relationship between the real effects of inflation and its level in countries with frequent episodes of high inflation. The real effects are computed as asymmetric impulse responses of output to inflation separately in the regimes with different signs of the differences between the expected inflation and the predicted output-neutral inflation. It is found that, with the increase in inflation, such effects increase in the regime with the positive sign, relatively to the effects in the regime with the negative sign. It is also shown that this finding is valid for most countries with high inflation episodes, where inflation is greater than 4.8% for at least 25% of quarterly observations. This leads to a simple policy prescription that, in economies with frequent high inflation episodes, anti-inflationary monetary decisions are least damaging for output if undertaken in the periods when the difference between the expected and output-neutral inflation is negative.
Design of Dual Band Wearable Antenna Using Metamaterials

Abstract This paper presents two types of dual band (2.4 and 5.8 GHz) wearable planar dipole antennas, one printed on a conventional substrate and the other on a two-dimensional metamaterial surface (Electromagnetic Bandgap (EBG) structure). The operation of both antennas is investigated and compared under different bending conditions (in E and H-planes) around human arm and leg of different radii. A dual band, Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) structure on a wearable substrate is used as a high impedance surface to control the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) as well as to improve the antenna gain up to 4.45 dBi. The EBG inspired antenna has reduced the SAR effects on human body to a safe level (<2W/Kg). I.e. the SAR is reduced by 83.3% for lower band and 92.8% for higher band as compared to the conventional antenna. The proposed antenna can be used for wearable applications with least health hazard to human body in Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band (2.4 GHz, 5.2 GHz) applications. The antennas on human body are simulated and analyzed in CST Microwave Studio (CST MWS).
Transpancreatic hepatomesenteric trunk complicating pancreaticoduodenectomy.

CONTEXT Standard celiac and hepatic arterial anatomy occur in approximately 60% of the patients; for the remaining, multiple variations have been described. A thorough knowledge of these anomalies is important in order to avoid unnecessary complications. In this report we describe one of the rarest arterial anomalies, a hepatomesenteric trunk supplying the liver. We attempt to elucidate its implications pertaining to the safe performance of a pancreaticoduodenectomy. CASE REPORT A 45-year-old male with a one-month duration painless progressive jaundice was evaluated and diagnosed as having a periampullary growth. Preoperative imaging did not suggest any arterial anomalies. Intraoperatively, the common hepatic artery was found to originate from the superior mesenteric artery. He underwent a pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with a meticulous dissection and preservation of the aberrant hepatomesenteric trunk. His postoperative period was uneventful and is doing well on follow up. CONCLUSION Variations in hepatic and celiac arterial anatomy are common, and may not get picked up on preoperative imaging. A high index of suspicion in every patient along with a precise knowledge of the normal anatomy and awareness of the aberrant anatomy is a sine qua non to the performance of a safe pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Analysis and review of apps and serious games on mobile devices intended for people with visual impairment

Serious games can be very useful for people with visual disabilities because they can help them to learn and discover the world, and also to perform activities of daily living. However apps repositories do not allow them to be easily found. Besides, most mobile devices or their apps are not accessible to people with a visual disability. Recently attention has focused on accessibility issues in this technology. This paper presents an analysis of 94 apps that have been specifically designed for people with visual disability or that could be used by them. The main characteristics of the apps will be examined in order to determine if could be considered as serious games and if they are suitable for users with visual impairments. We will encounter some difficulties in getting information about them because of current inappropriate classifications, unsuitable search terms and incomplete descriptions. Our objective is to improve their classification and therefore their searchability and their ability to make recommendations to users with visual impairment based on the user's profile and on information from their current context. We propose some changes aimed at apps repositories to improve search and classification.
Does Distant Leadership Make a Difference? Exploring the Effects of Leadership and Substitutes for Leadership on Virtual Worker Performance and Satisfaction

Title of Thesis: DOES DISTANT LEADERSHIP MAKE A DIFFERENCE? EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF LEADERSHIP AND SUBSTITUTES FOR LEADERSHIP ON VIRTUAL WORKER PERFORMANCE AND SATISFACTION Julie Stella Lyon, Master of Arts, 2003 Thesis Directed by: Professor Benjamin Schneider Department of Psychology Virtual work, or working from a site other than the main office, has been receiving a great deal of attention in recent years. What has not received the attention it deserves is the role of the virtual worker’s leader. In the present study I tested a framework for understanding a virtual leader’s influence on the subordinate outcomes of performance and satisfaction. I also included several of the variables suggested by the literature on substitutes for leadership (Kerr & Jermier, 1978). Employing a lab study framework, I crossed three levels of leadership (transactional, transformational, and no leadership) with three categories of leadership substitutes (conscientiousness, feedback, and climate for well-being). The effect of leadership on performance quantity was significant, with participants in the transactional condition outperforming participants in the transformational condition. Additionally, interesting interactions emerged between leadership and feedback and between leadership and conscientiousness on performance. Limitations and implications are discussed.
Noise-enhanced balance control in older adults

Somatosensory information is critical to balance control and fall prevention in older adults. Recently, it has been shown that low-level input noise (electrical or mechanical) can enhance the sensitivity of the human somatosensory system. In this study, we tested the effect of low-level electrical noise, applied at the knee, on balance control in 13 healthy elderly volunteers. Subjects performed multiple single-legged stance trials with imperceptible electrical noise applied at the knee during half of the trials. Balance performance was characterized using a force platform to measure the displacement of the center of pressure (COP) under the subject's stance foot. Seven sway parameters were extracted from the COP time series. Improved balance was defined as a reduction in postural sway as indicated by decreases in the COP measures. Six of the seven sway parameters decreased with electrical noise. Three of these parameters decreased significantly (p < 0.05), and a fourth parameter was borderline significant. Averaged across subjects, the application of electrical noise resulted in a 3.8% reduction in mediolateral COP standard deviation (p = 0.04), a 5.4% decrease in the maximum anteroposterior COP excursion (p = 0.03), a 3.1% reduction in the COP path length (p = 0.04), and a 7.8% decrease in swept area (p = 0.05). The results suggest that imperceptible electrical noise, when applied to the knee, can enhance the balance performance of healthy older adults. These findings suggest that electrical noise-based devices may be effective in improving balance control in elderly people.
The Impact of Trust and Relative Advantage on Internet Voting Diffusion

Internet voting is an emerging e-government phenomenon. In the United States, several state and local governments have experimented with Internet voting. This study presents a model of Internet voting adoption that integrates diffusion of innovation theory, institution-based trust and e-government utilization. To test the model a survey is administered to 372 citizens. The results of structural equation modeling indicate that relative advantage, Internet trust, and e-government information utilization have a significant impact on intention to use Internet voting. In addition to these direct effects, disposition to trust has a significant impact on Internet trust and accessibility has a significant impact on relative advantage. Not only are citizens interested in using the Internet to obtain government information, but also to cast their ballot. As a result, opportunities for Internet use in the political process are constantly emerging. Government agencies should take advantage of technological innovations to improve the accessibility of the electronic ballot, to communicate the advantages of this phenomenon and to engender trust among the citizenry.
HIV-1 Tropism and Liver Fibrosis in HIV–HCV Co-Infected Patients

Background and Aims Hepatic stellate cells, the major producers of extracellular matrix in the liver, and hepatocytes bear CXCR4 and CCR5, the two main co-receptors for entry of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In vitro studies suggest that HIV-envelope proteins can modulate the replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and fibrogenesis. We investigated the influence of HIV tropism on liver fibrosis and the concentration of HCV RNA in HIV–HCV co-infected patients. Methods We used a phenotypic assay to assess HIV tropism in 172 HCV–HIV co-infected patients: one group (75 patients) had mild fibrosis (score ≤F2) and the other (97 patients) had severe fibrosis (score >F2). We also assessed the relationship between HIV tropism and HCV RNA concentration in all these patients. We also followed 34 of these patients for 3 years to determine the evolution of HIV tropism and liver fibrosis, estimated by liver stiffness. Results Initially, most patients (91.8%) received a potent antiretroviral therapy. CXCR4-using viruses were found in 29% of patients. The only factor associated with a CXCR4-using virus infection in multivariate analysis was the nadir of CD4 cells: <200/mm3 (OR: 3.94, 95%CI: 1.39–11.14). The median HCV RNA concentrations in patients infected with R5 viruses, those with dual-mixed viruses and those with X4 viruses, were all similar. The prevalence of CXCR4-using viruses in patients with mild fibrosis (≤F2) (31%) and those with severe fibrosis (F3–F4) (28%, p = 0.6) was similar. Longitudinal analyses showed that the presence of CXCR4-using viruses did not increase the likelihood of fibrosis progression, evaluated by measuring liver stiffness. Conclusions The presence of CXCR4-using viruses in patients receiving a potent antiretroviral therapy does not influence HCV RNA concentration or liver fibrosis.