Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heterogeneous cellular networks: From theory to practice

The proliferation of internet-connected mobile devices will continue to drive growth in data traffic in an exponential fashion, forcing network operators to dramatically increase the capacity of their networks. To do this cost-effectively, a paradigm shift in cellular network infrastructure deployment is occurring away from traditional (expensive) high-power tower-mounted base stations and towards heterogeneous elements. Examples of heterogeneous elements include microcells, picocells, femtocells, and distributed antenna systems (remote radio heads), which are distinguished by their transmit powers/ coverage areas, physical size, backhaul, and propagation characteristics. This shift presents many opportunities for capacity improvement, and many new challenges to co-existence and network management. This article discusses new theoretical models for understanding the heterogeneous cellular networks of tomorrow, and the practical constraints and challenges that operators must tackle in order for these networks to reach their potential.
Fatty acid synthase: a metabolic enzyme and candidate oncogene in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND Overexpression of the fatty acid synthase (FASN) gene has been implicated in prostate carcinogenesis. We sought to directly assess the oncogenic potential of FASN. METHODS We used immortalized human prostate epithelial cells (iPrECs), androgen receptor-overexpressing iPrECs (AR-iPrEC), and human prostate adenocarcinoma LNCaP cells that stably overexpressed FASN for cell proliferation assays, soft agar assays, and tests of tumor formation in immunodeficient mice. Transgenic mice expressing FASN in the prostate were generated to assess the effects of FASN on prostate histology. Apoptosis was evaluated by Hoechst 33342 staining and by fluorescence-activated cell sorting in iPrEC-FASN cells treated with stimulators of the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis (ie, camptothecin and anti-Fas antibody, respectively) or with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting FASN. FASN expression was compared with the apoptotic index assessed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated UTP end-labeling method in 745 human prostate cancer samples by using the least squares means procedure. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Forced expression of FASN in iPrECs, AR-iPrECs, and LNCaP cells increased cell proliferation and soft agar growth. iPrECs that expressed both FASN and androgen receptor (AR) formed invasive adenocarcinomas in immunodeficient mice (12 of 14 mice injected formed tumors vs 0 of 14 mice injected with AR-iPrEC expressing empty vector (P < .001, Fisher exact test); however, iPrECs that expressed only FASN did not. Transgenic expression of FASN in mice resulted in prostate intraepithelial neoplasia, the incidence of which increased from 10% in 8- to 16-week-old mice to 44% in mice aged 7 months or more (P = .0028, Fisher exact test), but not in invasive tumors. In LNCaP cells, siRNA-mediated silencing of FASN resulted in apoptosis. FASN overexpression protected iPrECs from apoptosis induced by camptothecin but did not protect iPrECs from Fas receptor-induced apoptosis. In human prostate cancer specimens, FASN expression was inversely associated with the apoptotic rate (mean percentage of apoptotic cells, lowest vs highest quartile of FASN expression: 2.76 vs 1.34, difference = 1.41, 95% confidence interval = 0.45 to 2.39, Ptrend = .0046). CONCLUSIONS These observations suggest that FASN can act as a prostate cancer oncogene in the presence of AR and that FASN exerts its oncogenic effect by inhibiting the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis.
Basic Rules of Hygiene Protect Health Care and Lab Workers from Nasal Colonization by Staphylococcus aureus: An International Cross-Sectional Study

Acquisition of nasal Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) colonization by contaminated hands is likely an important determinant of its nasal carriage rate in health care and lab setting. The objective of our cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of nasal methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) or -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage among health care professionals (HCPs) attending an international symposium and to study the association between compliance with hygiene rules, individual-related parameters, and medical conditions with nasal S. aureus carriage in this population. After obtaining consent, two nasal swabs were collected. Nasal MSSA and MRSA carriage was measured by the: i) molecular approach targeting spa, mecA and mecA-orfX junction sequences, and ii) culture on selective S. aureus media combined with mecA molecular detection of isolated strains. Information on compliance with hygiene rules, demographic variables, sector of activity and long-term medication was collected by anonymous questionnaire. The participation rate was 32.3%. In total, 176 subjects from 34 countries were included in the analysis. S. aureus was isolated from the nasal swabs of 57 (32.4%) subjects, of whom 3 (5.3%) harbored MRSA strains. Overall, 123 subjects reported working in microbiology laboratories with direct manipulation of S. aureus, and 29 acknowledged regular contacts with patients. In this exposed population, hydro-alcoholic solutions appeared to have a significant protective effect against nasal S. aureus carriage (OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.15–0.85). Hospital work was associated with increased risk of nasal S. aureus carriage (OR = 2.38; 95% CI: 1.07–5.29). The results of this study showed that compliance with basic rules of hygiene, such as the use of hydro-alcoholic solutions, could reduce the risk of nasal S. aureus colonization. Hydro-alcoholic solution could interrupt auto-transmission of the pathogen, consequently decreasing the overall nasal carriage rate, specifically in transient carriers.
Internal friction in enzyme reactions

The empirical concept of internal friction was introduced 20 years ago. This review summarizes the results of experimental and theoretical studies that help to uncover the nature of internal friction. After the history of the concept, we describe the experimental challenges in measuring and interpreting internal friction based on the viscosity dependence of enzyme reactions. We also present speculations about the structural background of this viscosity dependence. Finally, some models about the relationship between the energy landscape and internal friction are outlined. Alternative concepts regarding the viscosity dependence of enzyme reactions are also discussed. ©2012 IUBMB Life, 65(1):35–42, 2013
Protein intake in Parkinsonian patients using the EPIC food frequency questionnaire

The dietary habits of 45 Italian patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their spouses were investigated using the EPIC food frequency questionnaire. Average daily energy intake was similar, but PD patients consumed significantly more vegetable proteins and carbohydrates (both +18%; P = 0.01 and P = 0.001, respectively). Daily protein intake, which interferes with levodopa absorption, was 50% higher than the recommended daily allowance (1.2 vs. 0.8 g/kg) in both PD patients and spouses and was significantly higher in patients with moderate/severe symptoms (1.27 ± 0.29 vs. 1.07 ± 0.28 g/kg; P < 0.001). In patients taking levodopa, there was a correlation between daily levodopa dosage and protein intake (P = 0.027). Dietary habits of patients with advanced and/or fluctuating PD should always be checked, with particular reference to protein intake. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Co-occurrence features of multi-scale directional filter bank for texture characterization

In this paper, we propose to use co-occurrence features computed from multi-scale directional filter bank (MDFB) for texture characterization. As the filter band coefficients are localized frequency components, features from co-occurrence matrices of filter bands can characterize structures of textures by describing correlation among coefficients. Our experiments show that the co-occurrence features outperform energy features considerably in texture retrieval. In particular, they significantly improve the retrieval rate for textures with weak directionality and periodicity while still maintains a high retrieval rate for regular textures as the energy features
Contribution of Kv4 channels toward the A‐type potassium current in murine colonic myocytes

A rapidly inactivating K+ current (A‐type current; IA) present in murine colonic myocytes is important in maintaining physiological patterns of slow wave electrical activity. The kinetic profile of colonic IA resembles that of Kv4‐derived currents. We examined the contribution of Kv4 α‐subunits to IA in the murine colon using pharmacological, molecular and immunohistochemical approaches. The divalent cation Cd2+ decreased peak IA and shifted the voltage dependence of activation and inactivation to more depolarized potentials. Similar results were observed with La3+. Colonic IA was sensitive to low micromolar concentrations of flecainide (IC50= 11 μM). Quantitative PCR indicated that in colonic and jejunal tissue, Kv4.3 transcripts demonstrate greater relative abundance than transcripts encoding Kv4.1 or Kv4.2. Antibodies revealed greater Kv4.3‐like immunoreactivity than Kv4.2‐like immunoreactivity in colonic myocytes. Kv4‐like immunoreactivity was less evident in jejunal myocytes. To address this finding, we examined the expression of K+ channel‐interacting proteins (KChIPs), which act as positive modulators of Kv4‐mediated currents. Qualitative PCR identified transcripts encoding the four known members of the KChIP family in isolated colonic and jejunal myocytes. However, the relative abundance of KChIP transcript was 2.6‐fold greater in colon tissue than in jejunum, as assessed by quantitative PCR, with KChIP1 showing predominance. This observation is in accordance with the amplitude of the A‐type current present in these two tissues, where colonic myocytes possess densities twice that of jejunal myocytes. From this we conclude that Kv4.3, in association with KChIP1, is the major molecular determinant of IA in murine colonic myocytes.
Integrative Structure–Function Mapping of the Nucleoporin Nup133 Suggests a Conserved Mechanism for Membrane Anchoring of the Nuclear Pore Complex*

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is the sole passageway for the transport of macromolecules across the nuclear envelope. Nup133, a major component in the essential Y-shaped Nup84 complex, is a large scaffold protein of the NPC's outer ring structure. Here, we describe an integrative modeling approach that produces atomic models for multiple states of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) Nup133, based on the crystal structures of the sequence segments and their homologs, including the related Vanderwaltozyma polyspora (Vp) Nup133 residues 55 to 502 (VpNup13355–502) determined in this study, small angle X-ray scattering profiles for 18 constructs of ScNup133 and one construct of VpNup133, and 23 negative-stain electron microscopy class averages of ScNup1332–1157. Using our integrative approach, we then computed a multi-state structural model of the full-length ScNup133 and validated it with mutational studies and 45 chemical cross-links determined via mass spectrometry. Finally, the model of ScNup133 allowed us to annotate a potential ArfGAP1 lipid packing sensor (ALPS) motif in Sc and VpNup133 and discuss its potential significance in the context of the whole NPC; we suggest that ALPS motifs are scattered throughout the NPC's scaffold in all eukaryotes and play a major role in the assembly and membrane anchoring of the NPC in the nuclear envelope. Our results are consistent with a common evolutionary origin of Nup133 with membrane coating complexes (the protocoatomer hypothesis); the presence of the ALPS motifs in coatomer-like nucleoporins suggests an ancestral mechanism for membrane recognition present in early membrane coating complexes.
Molecular and Epidemiological Analyses of Human Adenovirus Type 7 Strains Isolated from the 1995 Nationwide Outbreak in Japan

ABSTRACT The adenovirus type 7 (Ad7) isolates from the 1995 nationwide outbreak in Japan were genetically and seroepidemiologically analyzed in comparison with Japanese Ad7 strains isolated before 1995 to determine their genome type and to speculate on their origin and causative factors of the outbreak. Twenty-six Ad7 isolates from the outbreak were identified by restriction enzyme analysis as the Ad7d2 genome type, while 22 Ad7 strains sporadically isolated in Japan before 1995 were identified as Ad7d. Partial nucleotide sequencing of the E3 region of Ad7d2 revealed a nucleotide substitution of G to A at position 265, resulting in the absence of the BstEII site and making Ad7d2 distinct from Ad7d. In Hiroshima City, Japan, no Ad7 was isolated from 1982 to 1994, but 43 and 50 Ad7 strains were isolated in 1995 and 1996, respectively. A seroepidemiological study of 251 serum samples collected in 1989 in Hiroshima City showed that only 2.8% of the samples were positive for Ad7. These results indicate that the 1995 outbreak of Ad7 in Japan was caused by the Ad7d2 genome type, which might have been introduced from outside Japan. The results also suggest that the low mass immunity in Japan was critical for the outbreak and that the mutation in the E3 region in Ad7d2 may have influenced transmission.
Utilizing a Dynamical Description of IspH to Aid in the Development of Novel Antimicrobial Drugs

The nonmevalonate pathway is responsible for isoprenoid production in microbes, including H. pylori, M. tuberculosis and P. falciparum, but is nonexistent in humans, thus providing a desirable route for antibacterial and antimalarial drug discovery. We coordinate a structural study of IspH, a [4Fe-4S] protein responsible for converting HMBPP to IPP and DMAPP in the ultimate step in the nonmevalonate pathway. By performing accelerated molecular dynamics simulations on both substrate-free and HMBPP-bound [Fe4S4]2+ IspH, we elucidate how substrate binding alters the dynamics of the protein. Using principal component analysis, we note that while substrate-free IspH samples various open and closed conformations, the closed conformation observed experimentally for HMBPP-bound IspH is inaccessible in the absence of HMBPP. In contrast, simulations with HMBPP bound are restricted from accessing the open states sampled by the substrate-free simulations. Further investigation of the substrate-free simulations reveals large fluctuations in the HMBPP binding pocket, as well as allosteric pocket openings – both of which are achieved through the hinge motions of the individual domains in IspH. Coupling these findings with solvent mapping and various structural analyses reveals alternative druggable sites that may be exploited in future drug design efforts.
Another Look at Whether a Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

Periods of rapid U.S. economic growth during the 1960s and 1970s coincided with improved living standards for many segments of the population, including the disadvantaged as well as the affluent, suggesting to some that a rising economic tide lifts all demographic boats. This paper investigates the impact of U.S. business cycle conditions on population well-being since the 1970s. Aggregate employment and hours worked in this period are strongly procyclical, particularly for low-skilled workers, while aggregate real wages are only mildly procyclical. Similar patterns appear in a balanced panel of PSID respondents that removes the effects of changing workforce composition, though the magnitude of the responsiveness of real wages to unemployment appears to have declined in the last 20 years. Economic upturns increase the likelihood that workers acquire jobs in sectors with positively sloped career ladders. Spending by state and local governments in all categories rises during economic expansions, including welfare spending, for which needs vary countercyclically. Since the disadvantaged are likely to benefit disproportionately from such government spending, it follows that the public finances also contribute to conveying the benefits of a strong economy to diverse population groups.
NR2F2 regulates chondrogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells in bioprinted cartilage

Bioprinting as an advanced enabling technology has the capacity to construct tissues with respective anatomical structures. In order to maintain the precise printing resolution for anatomical tissue printing, cell seeding density in bioink is limited. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used for cartilage tissue engineering. However, the approach of ideal chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs without hypertrophy still remains elusive. Here, we reported NR2F2 plays a crucial role in MSC chondrogenesis in bioprinted cartilage. NR2F2 over‐expressed MSCs showed significantly enhanced chondrogenesis and NR2F2 knockdown cells demonstrated the exactly opposite behavior. We evaluated the cells cultured in monolayer, 3D pellet, and bioprinted 3D scaffold. All observations were consistent among gene expression, biochemical analysis, histological assay, and biomechanical evaluation. The data also revealed possible involvement of NR2F2 in mechanism of MSC chondrogenic differentiation under hypoxic culture condition. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 208–216. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of current ripple on Li-ion battery ageing

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of the current ripple, originating from the dc-dc converter of e.g. a PHEV powertrain, on the ageing of Li-ion batteries. Most research concerning batteries focuses on very low (μHz) to low (Hz) frequencies and low current ripples to create very accurate battery models which can determine e.g. the State of Charge of the battery. On the other hand the design of dc-dc converters tries to reduce the current ripple by using multiple phases with interleaving technique and capacitors in parallel with the battery. The interaction between the current ripple of the dc-dc converter and the battery has received little attention so far. A test set-up is build with two identical 304 V, 12 kWh Li-ion batteries and two 100 A dc-dc converters. The dc-dc converter can be connected to an LCL-filter or solely to the primary inductor of this filter, such that the battery current contains a small or large current ripple respectively. The batteries are discharged and charged to simulate the circumstances in which a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is used. After each month, during which the battery either experiences a small or large current ripple, characterization tests are performed to establisch the ageing of the batteries. Based on the test results, the current ripple does not appear to have a measurable impact on the battery resistance and the Discharge and Regen Power. There is an increase of the resistance and a decrease of the Discharge and Regen Power, but this is to be expected as the battery packs are submitted to 3 months of Combined Cycle Life Testing. The temperature of the battery turns out to be far more important for the resistance and attained power levels of the batteries. The absent effect of the current ripple on the ageing of the batteries may be due to the intrinsic double-layer capacitor. This capacitor at the surface of the electrodes carries part of the current ripple and reduces the current ripple as experienced by the actual charge transfer reaction which carries the dc-part of the current.
Spectral modelling of 1 ES 1218+30.4

We employ a time-dependent synchrotron-self-Compton code for modelling contemporaneous multiwavelength data of the blazar 1 ES 1218+30.4. The input parameters of the model are used to infer physical parameters of the emitting region. An acceptable fit to the data is obtained by taking into account a stellar emission component in the optical regime due to the host galaxy. The physical parameters inferred from the fit are in line with particle acceleration due to the Fermi mechanism providing s = 2.1 spectra. From the properties of the host galaxy in the optical, we estimate the central black hole mass and thus confirm that the jet power injected into the emission region is in the sub-Eddington regime, as expected for BL Lacertae objects.
Neural substrates of intrinsic motivation: fMRI studies

Numerous social and educational psychologists propose that intrinsic motivation generated by personal interests and spontaneous satisfactions is qualitatively different from extrinsic types of motivation generated by external compensations and also that intrinsic motivation is more beneficial to learning than extrinsic types of motivation. However, in the field of neuroscience, intrinsic motivation has been little studied while extrinsic types of motivation (e.g., incentive motivation) have been thoroughly studied. The purpose of the present studies was to expand the neural understanding of motivation to include intrinsic motivational processes. To do so, a series of three event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies were conducted. Study 1 and Study 2 compared the neural activities when participants decided to act for intrinsic reasons (i.e., self-determined volitional and agentic behavior) versus when they decided to act for extrinsic reasons (i.e., non-self-determined volitional and agentic behavior). Both studies showed that the anterior insular cortex, known to be related to a sense of agency, was more activated during self-determined behavior associated with intrinsic reasons for acting while the posterior parietal regions (e.g., posterior cingulate cortex, angular gyrus), known to be related to a sense of a loss of agency, were more activated during non-self-determined behavior associated with extrinsic reasons for acting. These findings confirm the existence of neural-based intrinsic motivational processes, differentiate intrinsic motivation from incentive motivation, and document the important neural activities which function for generating self-determined agentic action. Study 3 examined these same neural activities as participants engaged in interesting and
The strength and genetic basis of reproductive isolating barriers in flowering plants

Speciation is characterized by the evolution of reproductive isolation between two groups of organisms. Understanding the process of speciation requires the quantification of barriers to reproductive isolation, dissection of the genetic mechanisms that contribute to those barriers and determination of the forces driving the evolution of those barriers. Through a comprehensive analysis involving 19 pairs of plant taxa, we assessed the strength and patterns of asymmetry of multiple prezygotic and postzygotic reproductive isolating barriers. We then reviewed contemporary knowledge of the genetic architecture of reproductive isolation and the relative role of chromosomal and genic factors in intrinsic postzygotic isolation. On average, we found that prezygotic isolation is approximately twice as strong as postzygotic isolation, and that postmating barriers are approximately three times more asymmetrical in their action than premating barriers. Barriers involve a variable number of loci, and chromosomal rearrangements may have a limited direct role in reproductive isolation in plants. Future research should aim to understand the relationship between particular genetic loci and the magnitude of their effect on reproductive isolation in nature, the geographical scale at which plant speciation occurs, and the role of different evolutionary forces in the speciation process.