Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glutamate-induced RNA localization and translation in neurons

Significance Local translation in dendrites of neurons has been shown to be important for neuronal function and synaptic biology. We imaged changes in the localization of β-actin mRNA and protein in dendritic spines. Our results showed that activating specific synapses can drive changes in the localization of endogenous mRNA and the translation of reporter RNA in dendrites of hippocampal neurons. Enhancing our understanding of the spatial and temporal kinetics of mRNA localization in dendrites informs local protein synthesis in neurons. These results provide direct evidence of protein synthesis away from the soma and allow us to determine how the kinetics of mRNA localization and translation could influence synaptic physiology and plasticity. Localization of mRNA is required for protein synthesis to occur within discrete intracellular compartments. Neurons represent an ideal system for studying the precision of mRNA trafficking because of their polarized structure and the need for synapse-specific targeting. To investigate this targeting, we derived a quantitative and analytical approach. Dendritic spines were stimulated by glutamate uncaging at a diffraction-limited spot, and the localization of single β-actin mRNAs was measured in space and time. Localization required NMDA receptor activity, a dynamic actin cytoskeleton, and the transacting RNA-binding protein, Zipcode-binding protein 1 (ZBP1). The ability of the mRNA to direct newly synthesized proteins to the site of localization was evaluated using a Halo-actin reporter so that RNA and protein were detected simultaneously. Newly synthesized Halo-actin was enriched at the site of stimulation, required NMDA receptor activity, and localized preferentially at the periphery of spines. This work demonstrates that synaptic activity can induce mRNA localization and local translation of β-actin where the new actin participates in stabilizing the expanding synapse in dendritic spines.
Investigation of the radiation dose from cone‐beam CT for image‐guided radiotherapy: A comparison of methodologies

Abstract Four methodologies were evaluated for quantifying kilovoltage cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) dose: the Cone‐Beam Dose Index (CBDI), IAEA Report 5 recommended methodology (IAEA), the AAPM Task Group 111 methodology (TG111), and the current dose metric; the Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI) on two commercial Varian cone‐beam CT imaging systems; the Clinac iX On‐Board Imager (OBI); and the TrueBeam X‐ray Imaging system (XI). The TG111 methodology measured the highest overall dose (21.199 ± 0.035 mGy OBI and 22.420 ± 0.002 XI for pelvis imaging) due to the full scatter of the TG111 phantom and was within 5% of CTDI measurements taken using a full scatter TG111 phantom and 30‐cm film strips. CBDI measured the second highest overall dose, within 10% of the TG111, with IAEA measuring the third highest dose. For head CBCT protocols, CBDI measured the highest dose, followed by IAEA. The CTDI method measured lowest across all scan modes highlighting its limitations for CBCT dosimetry. The XI imaging system delivered lower doses for head and thorax scan modes and similar doses to the OBI system for pelvis scan modes due to additional beam hardening filtration in the XI system. The TG111 method measured the highest dose in the center of a CBCT scan during image guidance procedures; however, CBDI provided a good approximation to TG111 with existing CTDI equipment and may be more applicable clinically.
Personality and Sedentary Behavior: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: Too much sitting is associated with an increased risk of chronic disease and premature death. This investigation aimed to systematically review the evidence for personality as a correlate of time spent in sedentary pursuits. Method: Electronic databases (PubMed; Science Direct; PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and SPORTDiscus via EBSCO; Web of Science; MEDLINE via Ovid; Scopus; ProQuest) were searched in December 2015 for studies reporting an association between at least 1 personality trait and time spent in at least 1 sedentary behavior. Pooled mean effect sizes were computed using inverse-variance weighted random effects meta-analysis. Results: Twenty-six studies (28 samples, 110 effect sizes) met inclusion criteria. Higher levels of sedentary behavior were associated with higher levels of neuroticism (r+ = .08, 95% confidence interval [CI: .05, .10]) and lower levels of conscientiousness (r+ = −.08, 95% CI [−.11, −.06]). Nonsignificant associations were observed for extraversion (r+ = .00, 95% CI [−.07, .06]), openness (r+ = −.02, 95% CI [−.05, .02]), and agreeableness (r+ = −.04, 95% CI [−.09, .00]). Effects for neuroticism and extraversion were moderated by measurement of sedentary behavior, and effects for openness and agreeableness were moderated by participant age and gender. Conclusions: Findings appear consistent with personality trait associations with other health-related behaviors. More objective measures of sedentary behavior are required to make more definitive conclusions about the contribution of personality to a sedentary lifestyle.
Genetic Polymorphism Study in Prolactin Receptor (PRLR) Gene and their Association with Milk Production Traits in Indian Cattle Breeds

The aim of the current study was to investigate the status of Prolactin receptor (PRLR) gene polymorphism using PCR-RFLP assay and their association with milk production traits in Sahiwal (n=53) and Hariana (n=50) cattle. Two region of PRLR gene consisting of exon 10 and exon 9 revealed 168 and 582 bp products, respectively. PRLR/SmlI assay resulted in three types of genotypes, namely, GG (168 bp), TT (123 and 45 bp) and heterozygous GT (168, 123 and 45 bp) genotypes with frequencies 27.18, 6.60 and 67.90%, respectively. The allelic frequency of G and T alleles were 0.607 and 0.393, respectively. The DraIII/ PCR-RFLP assay revealed three types of genotypes, namely, AA (582 bp), GG (399 and 183 bp) and heterozygous AG (582, 399 and 183 bp) genotypes with frequencies 17.0, 16.0 and 67.0 %, respectively. The allelic frequency of A and G alleles were 0.505 and 0.495, respectively. Chi square analysis revealed that screened cattle population was found in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for both the SNP. Association studies of PRLR/SmlI genotypes had significant difference for total milk yield (TMY) and milk yield in 300 days (MY300) among three genotypes. The GG genotype showed higher milk yield value than TT and GT animals in first lactation. PRLR/DraIII genotypes had no association with any production traits in first and second lactation. Therefore, the present study demonstrating that G allele of PRLR/SmlI gene could be used as a strong marker for improvement in milk production performance in milch cattle.
Correlation of Electrical Resistivity with Some Soil Parameters for the Development of Possible Prediction of Slope Stability and Bearing Capacity of Soil using Electrical Parameters

The long term objective of this research is to look into the possibility of replacing soil strength parameters such as cohesion and angle of friction with electrical resistivity value for the purpose of computing among others, factor of safety in slopes or bearing capacity of soil. This paper however is limited to the investigation of correlation between electrical resistivity with some selected soil parameters. Electrical resistivity tests, using a basic multi meter, steel moulds and other related equipment, were conducted in the laboratory on soil samples with variations in soil type, compaction energy and moisture content. The samples consisted of predominantly clay, silt and sandy size particles and were compacted in a 100 x 100 mm square mould, while the corresponding electrical resistivity tests were carried out using the disc electrode method in accordance to BS 1377. The values of the electrical parameters such as voltage, current and resistance, with the corresponding value of soil parameters such as cohesion, angle of friction and moisture content, were measured and recorded. The results of the tests produced some initial crude relationships between electrical resistivity and the selected soil parameters. The strongest correlation between electrical resistivity and angle of internal friction, φ, was obtained from the clay size samples with R 2 of 0.824, while the maximum correlation between electrical resistivity and moisture content again was obtained through the clay samples with R 2 of 0.818. From the other results and graphs analyzed, some consistencies and specific trends of behaviour observed gave some early indications that a more detail and precise correlation between electrical resistivity and soil strength parameters could be very well possible in future
Erosion-corrosion resistant coatings for coal-fired boiler tubes. II: Performance tests of thermal expansion matched coatings

Des melanges de ciments et mortiers refractaires, avec un coefficient de dilatation thermique parfaitement ajuste a celui des aciers ferritiques pour tubes de chaudieres, ont ete choisi comme materiaux potentiels pour les revetements de protection contre l'erosion-corrosion des tubes de chaudieres a charbon. Leurs performances dans des conditions d'utilisation sont determinees
Chemically Defined Diet Alters the Protective Properties of Fructo-Oligosaccharides and Isomalto-Oligosaccharides in HLA-B27 Transgenic Rats

Non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDO) were shown to reduce inflammation in experimental colitis, but it remains unclear whether microbiota changes mediate their colitis-modulating effects. This study assessed intestinal microbiota and intestinal inflammation after feeding chemically defined AIN-76A or rat chow diets, with or without supplementation with 8 g/kg body weight of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) or isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO). The study used HLA-B27 transgenic rats, a validated model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in a factorial design with 6 treatment groups. Intestinal inflammation and intestinal microbiota were analysed after 12 weeks of treatment. FOS and IMO reduced colitis in animals fed rat chow, but exhibited no anti-inflammatory effect when added to AIN-76A diets. Both NDO induced specific but divergent microbiota changes. Bifidobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae were stimulated by FOS, whereas copy numbers of Clostridium cluster IV were decreased. In addition, higher concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) were observed in cecal contents of rats on rat chow compared to the chemically defined diet. AIN-76A increased the relative proportions of propionate, iso-butyrate, valerate and iso-valerate irrespective of the oligosaccharide treatment. The SCFA composition, particularly the relative concentration of iso-butyrate, valerate and iso-valerate, was associated (P≤0.004 and r≥0.4) with increased colitis and IL-1 β concentration of the cecal mucosa. This study demonstrated that the protective effects of fibres on colitis development depend on the diet. Although diets modified specific cecal microbiota, our study indicates that these changes were not associated with colitis reduction. Intestinal inflammation was positively correlated to protein fermentation and negatively correlated with carbohydrate fermentation in the large intestine.
Sensorimotor reorganization by proprioceptive training in musician's dystonia and writer's cramp

Objective: The sensorimotor organization (SMO) of the motor hand area is abnormal in focal hand dystonia and likely contributes to symptom manifestation. In healthy subjects SMO is changed by training with proprioceptive stimulation. Here we test whether similar interventions reverse the abnormal SMO in musician's dystonia and writer's cramp. If so, they could be developed for therapeutic application. Methods: In six non-musicians, six professional musicians, six patients with musician's dystonia, and six patients with writer's cramp, SMO was explored by measuring changes in short-interval-intracortical-inhibition (SICI) during short periods of hand muscle vibration before and after two training types: AttVIB, involving attention to 15 minutes vibration of the abductor pollicis brevis (APB); and AttIndex, involving attention to subtle cutaneous stimulation of the index finger. Results: In healthy non-musicians, baseline SMO is spatially differentiated: SICI is reduced in projections to the vibrated, but enhanced to the non-vibrated muscles. Here AttVIB increased and AttIndex reduced the effect of subsequent APB-vibration on SMO. In healthy musicians, baseline SMO is less differentiated. AttVIB reinstated a more differential SMO pattern while AttIndex attenuated the effect of APB vibration. In focal hand dystonia, SMO is completely dedifferentiated. AttVIB tended to restore a more differential SMO in musician's dystonia but not in writer's cramp while AttIndex failed to induce any changes in both groups. Conclusion: The intervention effect depends on the pre-interventional sensorimotor organization (SMO). In focal hand dystonia, particularly in musician's dystonia, it is possible to retrain an abnormal SMO toward a more differential pattern, which has potential implications for therapy.
Buckling of cross-ply laminates subject to linearly varying compressive loads and in-plane boundary restraints

In-plane prebuckling stresses arise under axial edge loading as a result of a plate boundary being restrained from deformation in the plane of the plate. These stresses exhibit a uniform distribution only under a special set of boundary conditions and in general such uniform in-plane stress distributions do not exist under most boundary conditions encountered in practice. In the present study, in-plane prebuckling stresses are investigated for various in-plane boundary constraints and the stress contour lines are given for rectangular cross-ply laminated plates under linearly varying edge loads. The second part of the article involves the computation of the optimal layer thickness to maximize the buckling load under various combinations of in-plane boundary restraints. The numerical solutions are obtained by finite elements based on first-order shear deformable plate theory which include the in-plane deformations as nodal degrees of freedom. Numerical results show that the exclusion of the in-plane restraints may lead to errors in stability calculations and consequently in the design of laminated plates.
Investigation on structural colours in wing scales of butterfly Papilio peranthus Fabricius

The microstructure and geometrical dimensions of the scales on a butterfly Papilio peranthus Fabricius wing are obtained using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Two kinds of scales are found in a butterfly wing and the structural colour mainly comes from the cover scale. Different structural models of cover scale that are related to ridge and concavity are constructed and their corresponding optical properties are investigated using the finite-difference time-domain method. It is concluded that the structural colour on the cover scale mainly comes from the sculpted multilayer structure and the ridge on the scale has few effects on the structural colour. When the curvature of the sculpted multilayer structure decreases, the dominant wavelength of colour will shift to a longer wavelength and move slower and slower. The two-dimensional planar multilayer model can be used to calculate the structural colour when the curvature exceeds a certain value.
Hyperspectral Image Restoration via Iteratively Regularized Weighted Schatten  $p$-Norm Minimization

Hyperspectral images (HSIs) are inevitably corrupted by mixture noise during their acquisition process, in which various kinds of noise, e.g., Gaussian noise, impulse noise, dead lines, and stripes, may exist concurrently. In this paper, mixture noise removal is well illustrated by the task of recovering the low-rank and sparse components of a given matrix, which is constructed by stacking vectorized HSI patches from all the bands at the same position. Instead of applying a traditional nuclear norm, a nonconvex low-rank regularizer, i.e., weighted Schatten p-norm (WSN), is introduced to not only give better approximation to the original low-rank assumption but also to consider the importance of different rank components. The resulted nonconvex low-rank matrix approximation (LRMA) model falls into the applicable scope of an augmented Lagrangian method, and its WSN minimization subproblem can be efficiently solved by generalized iterated shrinkage algorithm. Moreover, the proposed model is integrated into an iterative regularization schema to produce final results, leading to a completed HSI restoration framework. Extensive experimental testing on simulated and real data shows, both qualitatively and quantitatively, that the proposed method has achieved highly competent objective performance compared with several state-of-the-art HSI restoration methods.
Ion-Selective Optical Sensors for the Management of Plant Nutrient Solutions

ION-SELECTIVE OPTICAL SENSORS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PLANT NUTRIENT SOLUTIONS Matthew T. Bamsey Co-Advisors: University of Guelph, 2012 Dr. M.A. Dixon Dr. A. Berinstain Traditionally, the condition of hydroponic nutrient solutions used in controlled environment or greenhouse plant production is obtained by monitoring solution pH and electrical conductivity. These parameters provide greenhouse operators with an overall sense of the solution quality, but do not provide information on individual components of the fertilizer solution. Considering that plant nutrient uptake requirements vary with crop, growth phase and environment, real-time ion-selective measurements represent a significant technological advance in the management of recirculating nutrient solutions. The capacity for the monitoring and control of individual ions in the nutrient solution is the last remaining environment variable for which reliable feedback control does not exist in controlled environment plant production. This technology development study focussed on optical ion-selective sensors, termed ‘optrodes’, for potassium and calcium sensing within nutrient solution. Bulk optrode absorption-based sensors, tailored explicitly for nutrient ion activities within typical hydroponic solutions were theoretically modelled, fabricated and experimentally tested. Experimental data on sensor response time, measuring range, selectivity, repeatability, lifetime and influence of temperature were compiled. These ion-selective bulk optrode membranes were integrated into a custom instrument combining a light source, minispectrometer, optical fibres and other associated components. Monitoring and control software was written that collected and converted optical measurements into estimated nutrient ion activities for use in managing nutrient solution quality. Implemented spectral averaging, normalization and ratiometric computations and techniques resulted in sensors that offered the advantage of auto-calibration. The sensors met selectivity requirements in half strength Hoagland nutrient solution and provided repeatable measurements in solutions of different ion activity levels. Potassium and calcium selective membranes demonstrated lifetimes of 30 to 50 hours when constantly immersed in nutrient solution. Strategies for their operational implementation in plant growth systems based upon experimental testing are proposed as are suggestions for future study. The low mass, low volume, low cost and robust nature of these optrodes offer a promising technology for future space-based plant production systems and give them excellent terrestrial technology transfer potential.
FDD-RT: A Simple CSI Acquisition Technique via Channel Reciprocity for FDD Massive MIMO Downlink

We propose a channel state information acquisition mechanism to reduce the training overhead in frequency-division duplexing (FDD) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) downlink (DL). While the massive MIMO has demonstrated the great potentials in many aspects, the carrier multiplexing designs in massive MIMO mostly adopt time-division duplexing (TDD) system, which stems from a stereotype that the uplink/DL channel reciprocity only holds for TDD. On the other hand, FDD massive MIMO is generally considered infeasible due to the unaffordable temporal overhead for sending training symbols at base station. Our proposed FDD with reverse training (FDD-RT) modifies the DL band training procedure in typical FDD system to reduce pilot overhead, where the DL band channel reciprocity is exploited in FDD-RT. FDD-RT contributes to providing a feasible and relatively low complexity method to implement massive MIMO in FDD system. Without FDD-RT, communication operators who currently use FDD system may be enforced to change to TDD system in the future to accommodate massive MIMO, where the cost is prohibitive. The most different property of FDD-RT from other solutions is that its training overhead does not scale with the number of antennas at base station. The detail analysis/comparison of FDD-RT will be given in this paper.
Plasma Modification of Filter Nonwovens Used for the Protection of Respiratory Tracts

The filter materials commonly used in micro-filtration processes consist of nonwoven fab rics made by melt-blowing. In order to improve the filterability of nonwovens, they are subjected to various modifications. This paper proposes the treatment of nonwovens with Iow-pressure cold plasma (LPCP) using process gases such as air, methane and hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). The effectiveness of this treatment was assessed on the basis of the results of the penetration of nonwovens by NaCl aero-dispersion in a flux of air and flow resistance data. The effects of plasma on filter nonwovens, especially on their chemi cal structure and surface topography were evaluated by means of ATR-IR spectroscopy and SEM microscopy. The nonwoven filters obtained show a high effectiveness of filtration and do not increase the resistance of air flow.
Effective scheme of photolysis of GFP in live cell as revealed with confocal fluorescence microscopy

We proposed an effective kinetics scheme of photolysis of green fluorescent protein (GFP) observed in live cells with a commercial confocal fluorescence microscope. We investigated the photolysis of GFP-tagged heterochromatin protein, HP1β-GFP, in live nucleus with the pulse position modulation approach, which has several advantages over the classical pump-and-probe method. At the basis of the proposed scheme lies a process of photoswitching from the native fluorescence state to the intermediate fluorescence state, which has a lower fluorescence yield and recovers back to native state in the dark. This kinetics scheme includes four effective parameters (photoswitching, reverse switching, photodegradation rate constants, and relative brightness of the intermediate state) and covers the time scale from dozens of milliseconds to minutes of the experimental fluorescence kinetics. Additionally, the applicability of the scheme was demonstrated in the cases of continuous irradiation and the classical pump-and-probe approach using numerical calculations and analytical solutions. An interesting finding of experimental data analysis was that the overall photodegradation of GFP proceeds dominantly from the intermediate state, and demonstrated approximately the second-order reaction versus irradiation power. As a practical example, the proposed scheme elucidates the artifacts of fluorescence recovery after the photobleaching method, and allows us to propose some suggestions on how to diminish them.