Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vitro tolerance induction of primed, IgD-negative murine spleen cells

The above observations demonstrated induction of immunological tolerance in vitro in primed IgD-, IgG+ B cells. In these studies, addition of trinitrophenylated (TNP) turkey gammaglobulin (TGG) or TNP ovalbumin conjugates suppressed the secondary in vitro response in mice primed with TNP keyhole limpet hemocyanin (TNP-KLH). Suppression was not a reflection of a shift in kinetics of the antibody response, was not dependent on suppressor T cells, and could only be eliciate when conjugate was added within 4 h of addition of TNP-KLH moreover, preincubation of the primed spleen cells with TNP-TGG for 20 h at 37 degrees C, followed by extensive washing, was as effective in inhibiting the response to TNP-KLH as when TNP-TGG was present throughout the 5 d of culture, reflecting induction of a tolerant state. Amounts of conjugate in the concentration range that have been shown by others to tolerize immature or neonatal B cells or mature B cells that have been stripped of surface IgD were sufficient to induce tolerance. The target cells being tolerized did not bear IgD, as determined by B cell depletion and blocking procedures with anti IgD. Whether the lack of surface IgD on the primed cells contributed to the relative ease of tolerance induction was not established by these studies, but the advantages of using primed B cells to examine further the role of surface IgD in tolerance susceptibility was discussed.
Nonsynaptic Communication Through ATP Release from Volume-Activated Anion Channels in Axons

Axonal swelling allows neurons to communicate with glia by ATP released from volume-activated anion channels. A Swell Route to Neuronal Communication Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which can be released at synapses to act as a neurotransmitter, can also be released through mechanically activated anion channels in nonexcitable cells as part of a mechanism to restore volume under hypotonic conditions. Here, Fields and Ni show that minute increases in axon volume secondary to neuronal activity are associated with release of ATP from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) axons. This activity-dependent release of ATP was inhibited by preventing axonal swelling with hypertonic solutions, as well as by pharmacological blockade of various stretch-activated chloride channels, but not by agents that block the release of synaptic vesicles. Moreover, conditions that blocked ATP release also blocked signals from DRG neurons to cocultured astrocytes. The authors thus propose that nonvesicular release of signaling molecules through stretch-activated channels may represent a mechanism for activity-dependent communication between neurons and nearby cells. The release of neuronal messengers outside synapses has broad biological implications, particularly with regard to communication between axons and glia. We identify a mechanism for nonsynaptic, nonvesicular release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from axons through volume-activated anion channels (VAACs) activated by microscopic axon swelling during action potential firing. We used a combination of single-photon imaging of ATP release, together with imaging for intrinsic optical signals, intracellular calcium ions (Ca2+), time-lapse video, and confocal microscopy, to investigate action potential–induced nonsynaptic release of this neurotransmitter. ATP release from cultured embryonic dorsal root ganglion axons persisted when bafilomycin or botulinum toxin was used to block vesicular release, whereas pharmacological inhibition of VAACs or prevention of action potential–induced axon swelling inhibited ATP release and disrupted activity-dependent signaling between axons and astrocytes. This nonvesicular, nonsynaptic communication could mediate various activity-dependent interactions between axons and nervous system cells in normal conditions, development, and disease.
Shear flow in smectic A liquid crystals

This paper considers the onset of a shear-induced instability in a sample of smectic A liquid crystal. Unlike many previous models, the usual director n need not necessarily coincide with the local smectic layer normal a; the traditional Oseen constraint () is not imposed when flow is present. A recent dynamic theory for smectic A (Stewart 2007 Contin. Mech. Thermodyn. 18 343–60) will be used to examine a stationary instability in a simple model when the director reorientation and smectic layer distortions are, firstly, assumed not to be coupled to the velocity and, secondly, are supposed coupled to the velocity. A critical shear rate at which the onset of the instability occurs will be identified, together with an accompanying critical director tilt angle and critical wavenumber for the associated smectic layer undulations. Despite some critical phenomena being largely unaffected by any coupling to the flow, it will be shown that the influence of some material parameters, especially the smectic layer compression constant B0 and the coupling constant B1, upon the critical shear rate and critical tilt angle can be greatly affected by flow.
ATG8 Family Proteins Act as Scaffolds for Assembly of the ULK Complex

Background: The ULK complex regulates autophagy, but how it interacts with the basal autophagy apparatus is unknown. Results: ULK1, -2, ATG13, and FIP200 bind to ATG8 family proteins via LIR (LC3 interacting region) motifs. Conclusion: ATG8 family proteins act as scaffolds anchoring the ULK complex on autophagosomes. Significance: We define sequence requirements for the LIR motifs and suggest how the ULK complex interacts with autophagosomes. Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent degradation system conserved among eukaryotes. The mammalian Atg1 homologues, Unc-51 like kinase (ULK) 1 and 2, are multifunctional proteins with roles in autophagy, neurite outgrowth, and vesicle transport. The mammalian ULK complex involved in autophagy consists of ULK1, ULK2, ATG13, FIP200, and ATG101. We have used pulldown and peptide array overlay assays to study interactions between the ULK complex and six different ATG8 family proteins. Strikingly, in addition to ULK1 and ULK2, ATG13 and FIP200 interacted with human ATG8 proteins, all with strong preference for the GABARAP subfamily. Similarly, yeast and Drosophila Atg1 interacted with their respective Atg8 proteins, demonstrating the evolutionary conservation of the interaction. Use of peptide arrays allowed precise mapping of the functional LIR motifs, and two-dimensional scans of the ULK1 and ATG13 LIR motifs revealed which substitutions that were tolerated. This information, combined with an analysis of known LIR motifs, provides us with a clearer picture of sequence requirements for LIR motifs. In addition to the known requirements of the aromatic and hydrophobic residues of the core motif, we found the interactions to depend strongly on acidic residues surrounding the central core LIR motifs. A preference for either a hydrophobic residue or an acidic residue following the aromatic residue in the LIR motif is also evident. Importantly, the LIR motif is required for starvation-induced association of ULK1 with autophagosomes. Our data suggest that ATG8 proteins act as scaffolds for assembly of the ULK complex at the phagophore.
Taming QoE in cellular networks: From subjective lab studies to measurements in the field

A quarter of the world population will be using smartphones to access the Internet in the near future. In this context, understanding the Quality of Experience (QoE) of popular apps in such devices becomes paramount to cellular network operators, who need to offer high quality levels to reduce the risks of customers churning for quality dissatisfaction. In this paper we address the problem of QoE provisioning in smartphones from a double perspective, combining the results obtained from subjective lab tests with end-device passive measurements and QoE crowd-sourced feedback obtained in operational cellular networks. The study addresses the impact of the downlink bandwidth on the QoE of three popular smartphone apps: YouTube, Facebook and Google Maps. As a main contribution, we show that the results obtained in the lab are highly applicable in the live scenario, as mappings track the QoE provided by users in real networks. We additionally provide hints and bandwidth thresholds for good QoE levels on such apps, as well as discussion on end-device passive measurements and analysis. The results presented in this paper provide a sound basis to better understand the QoE requirements of popular mobile apps, as well as for monitoring the underlying provisioning network. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper providing such a comprehensive analysis of QoE in mobile devices, combining network measurements with users QoE feedback in lab tests and operational networks.
Embellishing Problem-Solving Examples with Deep Structure Information Facilitates Transfer

ABSTRACT Appreciation of problem structure is critical to successful learning. Two experiments investigated effective ways of communicating problem structure in a computer-based learning environment and tested whether verbal instruction is necessary to specify solution steps, when deep structure is already embellished by instructional examples. Participants learned to solve algebra-like problems and then solved transfer problems that required adjustment of learned procedures. Experiment 1 demonstrated that verbal instruction helped learning by reducing learners' floundering, but its positive effect disappeared in the transfer. More importantly, students transferred better when they studied with examples that emphasized problem structure rather than solution procedure. Experiment 2 showed that verbal instruction was not necessarily more effective than nonverbal scaffolding to convey problem structure. Final understanding was determined by transparency of problem structure regardless of presence of verbal instruction. However, verbal instruction had a positive impact on learners by having them persist through the task, and optimal instructional choices were likely to differ depending on populations of learners.
Do Rodents Have a Gene Encoding Glycogenin‐2, the Liver Isoform of the Self‐Glucosylating Initiator of Glycogen Synthesis?

The discovery of a second human gene, GYG2, encoding a liverspecific isoform of glycogenin, the self‐glucosylating initiator of glycogen biosynthesis, raised the possibility for differential controls of this protein in liver and muscle. The new protein, glycogenin‐2, had several properties similar biochemically to the muscle isoform, glycogenin‐1, but unlike glycogenin‐1, stable expression in fibroblasts led to a significant overaccumulation of glycogen. Ensuing attempts to generate reagents suitable for use with rodents, to examine the physiological regulation of glycogenin‐2 by nutritional and hormonal factors, have been unsuccessful. Proof of a negative is difficult but the weight of the evidence is beginning to mitigate against the existence of a second glycogenin gene in rodents leading us to hypothesize that the presence of the GYG2 gene is limited to primates.
Scalable Parallel Octree Meshing for TeraScale Applications

We present a new methodology for generating and adapting octree meshes for terascale applications. Our approach combines existing methods, such as parallel octree decomposition and space-filling curves, with a set of new methods that address the special needs of parallel octree meshing. We have implemented these techniques in a parallel meshing tool called Octor. Performance evaluations on up to 2000 processors show that Octor has good isogranular scalability, fixed-size scalability, and absolute running time. Octor also provides a novel data access interface to parallel PDE solvers and parallel visualization pipelines, making it possible to develop tightly coupled end-to-end finite element simulations on terascale systems.
Chloroplast density in guard cells of leaves of anther-derived potato plants grown in vitro and in vivo

A technique was developed to count chloroplasts in guard cell pairs of leaf- lets of anther-derived potato (Solanum phureja Juz. and Buk) plants grown in vitro to determine how they compare to chloroplast counts for similar plants grown in vivo. The mean chloroplast density in guard cells of in vitro leaflets was visualized using fluorescein diacetate (FDA) stain and observed under a microscope. A consistently higher mean was observed for in vitro than for in vivo plants but monoploid could readily be distinguished from diploid regenerants whether grown in vitro or in vivo. A rapid method of ploidy estimation based on chloroplast counts on in vitro leaflets may hasten identification of monoploids to be used for in vitro applications to genetic reconstruction of potato. Development of a convenient, fast, and accurate procedure to determine the ploidy status of anther-derive d plants would facili- tate early identification of monoploids and hasten disposal of undesirable higher ploidy levels that generally have comprised the ma- jority of anther-derive d plants (Veilleux et al., 1985; Wenzel and Uhrig, 1981). Chro- mosome counts from mitotic cells in root tips or meiotic cells in flower buds are accurate but generally require that plantlets be accli-
Evaluation of the Relative Importance of Circumferential or Creeping Waves in the Acoustic Scattering from Rigid and Elastic Solid Cylinders and from Cylindrical Shells.

Abstract : The relationship is determined between predicted circumferential waves on cylinders and the normal-mode series solution for the acoustic scattering by submerged metal cylinders. Specific circumferential waves are linked to the free modes of vibration of the cylinder, and this identification is used to experimentally detect the Rayleigh surface wave at low ka. Circumferential waves on thin cylindrical shells are demonstrated to closely follow prediction based on Lamb theory for flat plates. (Author)
A High-Frequency CLCL Converter Based on Leakage Inductance and Variable Width Winding Planar Magnetics

A CLCL resonant DC/DC converter based on the transformer leakage inductance is proposed in this paper. With the adoption of leakage inductance, the system volume and magnetic losses can be greatly reduced. The optimal design method of the proposed converter is analyzed in detail. Also, the advantages of the CLCL converter are depicted compared with LLC circuit. The design of variable width winding planar magnetics is depicted in detail, which can reduce the winding losses and parasitic capacitance. A 1-MHz prototype using gallium nitride FETs is built to verify the feasibility of the proposed resonant converter and design method.
Bean abscission cellulase : characterization of a cDNA clone and regulation of gene expression by ethylene and auxin.

The physiology and anatomy of abscission has been studied in considerable detail; however, information on the regulation of gene expression in abscission has been limited because of a lack of probes for specific genes. We have identified and sequenced a 595 nucleotide bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv Red Kidney) abscission cellulase cDNA clone (pBACl). The bean cellulase cDNA has extensive nucleic and amino acid sequence identity with the avocado cellulase cDNA pAV363. The 2.0 kilobase bean mRNA complementary to pBACl codes for a polypeptide of approximately 51 kilodalton (shown by hybrid-selection followed by in vitro translation). Bean cellulase antiserum is shown to immunoprecipitate a 51 kilodalton polypeptide from the in vitro translation products of abscission zone poly(A)(+) RNA. Ethylene initiates bean leaf abscission and tissue-specific expression of cellulase mRNA. If ethylene treatment of bean explants was discontinued after 31 h and then 2,5-norbornadiene given to inhibit responses resulting from endogenously synthesized ethylene, polysomal cellulase mRNA hybridizing to pBACl decreased. Thus, ethylene is required not only to initiate abscission and cellulase gene expression but also to maintain continued accumulation of cellulase mRNA. Explants treated with auxin 4 hours prior to a 48 hour treatment with ethylene showed no substantial accumulation of RNA hybridizing to pBACl or expression of cellulase activity.
Radioimmunofocus assay for detection and quantitation of human rotavirus

A radioimmunofocus assay suitable for quantitation of cell culture-adapted human rotavirus was developed. The method was reproducible, more sensitive than plaque assay, and useful to detect and quantify strains of rotavirus which do not produce plaques. Preliminary results also suggested that the technique will be a useful means of serotyping cell culture-adapted strains of the virus.
Granulomatous hypersensitivity to Schistosoma mansoni EGG antigens in human schistosomiasis. IV. A role for prostaglandin‐induced inhibition of in vitro granuloma formation

The prostaglandins (PG) are known to regulate immune cell function(s) and participate in the progression of both acute and chronic inflammatory reactions. Using an in vitro model of Schistosoma mansoni egg‐induced hypersensitivity granulomas, we have delineated the role of immune complexes (IC) in the induction and release of PG and their inhibitory effects on granuloma development. The hypersensitivity‐type granuloma reaction to soluble egg antigen (SEA) was examined using a model of in vitro granuloma formation. Our results show that granuloma formation was dramatically suppressed by the addition to the granuloma cultures of IC, PGE1, PGE2, while PGF2 alpha had no significant effect. The inhibition of the PG function was achieved by the introduction of anti‐PG antibodies that blocked suppression of granuloma formation. It appears in this model system that IC may inhibit the activity of granuloma formation by stimulating the monocyte‐macrophage lineage to release inhibitory mediators. Our results suggest that the prostaglandins E series may be important in the generation and maintenance of suppression of the granulomatous inflammatory response to S. mansoni egg antigens.
High Temperature Creep Behaviour of Silicon Carbide Particulate Reinforced Aluminium

Creep in aluminium reinforced by 30 vol.% silicon carbide particulates of 4.1 μιη in size is investigated at temperatures 623, 673 and 723K and in a broad region of applied stresses. The creep exhibits threshold behaviour, the true threshold stress decreases with increasing temperature, but is not proportional to the shear modulus. The true applied stress exponent of minimum creep strain rate, n, is approximately equal to that for the matrix metal, i.e. to 5. The creep strain rate is controlled by lattice diflusion in the matrix metal. The experimentally observed high values of the apparent stress exponent of minimum creep strain rate, m, as well as high values of the apparent activation energy of creep, Qc, are accounted for in terms of the threshold creep behaviour. The creep is described by a constitutive equation that includes the threshold stress, σχπ, besides the activation enthalpy of matrix lattice diffusion, AHL, and the true stress exponent n. The creep strengthening effect of SiC particulate reinforcement is shown to be very significant.
Cognitive Control Signals for Neural Prosthetics

Recent development of neural prosthetics for assisting paralyzed patients has focused on decoding intended hand trajectories from motor cortical neurons and using this signal to control external devices. In this study, higher level signals related to the goals of movements were decoded from three monkeys and used to position cursors on a computer screen without the animals emitting any behavior. Their performance in this task improved over a period of weeks. Expected value signals related to fluid preference, the expected magnitude, or probability of reward were decoded simultaneously with the intended goal. For neural prosthetic applications, the goal signals can be used to operate computers, robots, and vehicles, whereas the expected value signals can be used to continuously monitor a paralyzed patient's preferences and motivation.
Performance Monitoring in Children Following Traumatic Brain Injury Compared to Typically Developing Children

Children with traumatic brain injury are reported to have deficits in performance monitoring, but the mechanisms underlying these deficits are not well understood. Four performance monitoring hypotheses were explored by comparing how 28 children with traumatic brain injury and 28 typically developing controls (matched by age and sex) performed on the stop-signal task. Control children slowed significantly more following incorrect than correct stop-signal trials, fitting the error monitoring hypothesis. In contrast, the traumatic brain injury group showed no performance monitoring difference with trial types, but significant group differences did not emerge, suggesting that children with traumatic brain injury may not perform the same way as controls.
Effects of Preheat and Interpass Temperature on the Residual Stress and Distortion on the T-Joint Weld

The finite element model of ABAQUS combined with FORTRAN subroutines was developed to predict the residual stress and deformation of T-joint welds under different preheat and inter-pass temperature. A calibrated and sequentially coupled thermal and mechanical 3D finite element (FE) model is developed, and Goldak’s double ellipsoidal heat source model is implemented into the numerical model. The welding induced imperfections, including the residual stress and distortion are discussed in this paper. The results show that vertical deformation depend significantly on the preheat temperature and inter-pass temperature. The influences of preheat and interpass temperature on the residual stress are not significant.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Three Hysterical Movement Disorders

Three hysterical movement disorders are reported: a case of hysterical bilateral blepharospasm which later presented as hysterical hemifacial spasm, a case of hysterical myoclonus, and a case of hysterical parkinsonism. Two patients presented with a relative indifference to preceding life experiences that would normally have evoked considerable emotion. Two of the cases first presented at an older age and one of these older patients was a man. Two of the patients agreed to hypnotherapy and supportive psychotherapy. In both cases the “involuntary” movements disappeared during hypnosis. In the third case, there was a complete spontaneous resolution of symptoms in a neurological condition where resolution would not be expected to occur.
Free amino acid content in infant formulas

Purpose – Infant formula is the sole nutrition and food source for many infants. Information on the free amino acid (FAA) content of formulas, particularly those that are protein hydrolysate based, is limited, despite emerging evidence for the role of FAAs in regulating eating behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to measure levels of essential, semi‐essential, and nonessential FAAs in commercially available infant formulas to provide a foundation for future research examining the influence of FAAs on infant development.Design/methodology/approach – Using an automatic amino acid analyzer, we measured the concentrations of FAAs in four types of formula: two cow milk (CMF); three soy protein (SPF); and three protein hydrolysate (PHF), one of which was a partial hydrolysate (pPHF) and two of which were extensive hydrolysate (ePHF). Findings – It was found that the amount and number of FAAs varied significantly across formula types: for CMF, total FAAs ranged from 523‐864 μmol/L, with taurine being the most .