Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DNA mimics of red fluorescent proteins (RFP) based on G-quadruplex-confined synthetic RFP chromophores

Abstract Red fluorescent proteins (RFPs) have emerged as valuable biological markers for biomolecule imaging in living systems. Developing artificial fluorogenic systems that mimic RFPs remains an unmet challenge. Here, we describe the design and synthesis of six new chromophores analogous to the chromophores in RFPs. We demonstrate, for the first time, that encapsulating RFP chromophore analogues in canonical DNA G-quadruplexes (G4) can activate bright fluorescence spanning red and far-red spectral regions (Em = 583−668 nm) that nearly match the entire RFP palette. Theoretical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that DNA G4 greatly restricts radiationless deactivation of chromophores induced by a twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT). These DNA mimics of RFP exhibit attractive photophysical properties comparable or superior to natural RFPs, including high quantum yield, large Stokes shifts, excellent anti-photobleaching properties, and two-photon fluorescence. Moreover, these RFP chromophore analogues are a novel and distinctive type of topology-selective G4 probe specific to parallel G4 conformation. The DNA mimics of RFP have been further exploited for imaging of target proteins. Using cancer-specific cell membrane biomarkers as targets, long-term real-time monitoring in single live cell and two-photon fluorescence imaging in tissue sections have been achieved without the need for genetic coding.
Behavior-based decentralized approach for cooperative control of a multiple small scale unmanned helicopter

RUAV (Rotorcraft based Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) have been exploited in various fields such as surveillance, reconnaissance and search. Most of the study in this area is focused on single RUAV; however using multiple unmanned vehicles is big advantage to accomplish the mission in a short time and effective way. Moreover little amount of research has been undertaken in the development of multiple RUAV control systems. This paper proposes a behavior-based decentralized approach that allows an RUAV to carry out its own mission of flying to a specified region while the distances between RUAVs are maintained constantly to avoid collision. The main goal of the proposed controller is to make the RUAV cooperate among each other to achieve the defined task. In this research Reynold's flocking model based behavior approach has been utilized. Along with this the testing environment for multiple RUAV is developed to validate proposed control algorithm. Complete setup is implemented and run under QNX RTOS, based on PC104 embedded board. The multiple RUAV is tested and evaluated using HILS (Hardware-In-the-Loop Simulation). To validate the proposed approach, simulation is performed to achieve the waypoint with multiple RUAVs.
Production , Manufacturing and Logistics Coordination of supply chains by option contracts : A cooperative game theory approach

a Institute of Systems Science, Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China b School of International Trade and Economics, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing 100029, PR China c Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PR China d Department of Applied Mathematics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PR China e School of Business, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY 11530, USA f School of Business, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, PR China
Hepatitis C virus production by human hepatocytes dependent on assembly and secretion of very low-density lipoproteins

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and triglyceride-rich very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) both are secreted uniquely by hepatocytes and circulate in blood in a complex. Here, we isolated from human hepatoma cells the membrane vesicles in which HCV replicates. These vesicles, which contain the HCV replication complex, are highly enriched in proteins required for VLDL assembly, including apolipoprotein B (apoB), apoE, and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. In hepatoma cells that constitutively produce infectious HCV, HCV production is reduced by two agents that block VLDL assembly: an inhibitor of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein and siRNA directed against apoB. These results provide a possible explanation for the restriction of HCV production to the liver and suggest new cellular targets for treatment of HCV infection.
Exposure to metal welding fume particles and risk for cardiovascular disease in Denmark: a prospective cohort study

Objectives To study welding fume particles in relation to cardiovascular diseases. Methods In 1986, 10 059 male metal workers in 75 welding companies were sent a questionnaire about their welding experience and lifestyle (83.3% response rate). Of these, 5866 were available for analysis and had ever welded at baseline. Information on exposure to welding fumes after 1986 was obtained by individual linkage to the National Pension Fund. Lifelong exposure to welding fume particles was estimated from a job–exposure matrix based on more than 1000 welding-specific measures of fume particles. Hospital contacts for cardiovascular disease were obtained from the Danish National Patient Registry by individual linkage. The nine disease outcomes considered were acute myocardial infarct (AMI), angina pectoris, other acute ischaemic heart diseases, chronic ischaemic heart disease (CHD), cardiac arrythmias, cardiac arrest, heart failure, cerebral infarct, arterial embolism and thrombosis. The cohort was followed up from baseline until the end of 2006. Results When the incidence of each of the nine cardiovascular outcomes among welders was compared with 5-year age- and calendar year-specific male national rates, the number of observed cases significantly exceeded that expected for AMI (standardised incidence ratio, 95% CI) (1.12, 1.01 to 1.24), angina pectoris (1.11, 1.01 to 1.22), CHD (1.17, 1.05 to 1.31) and cerebral infarct (1.24, 1.06 to 1.44). Internal comparisons of the cohort with adjustment for tobacco smoking, alcohol and hypertension medicines showed a significantly increasing hazard rate ratio for CHD and non-significant increases for AMI, angina pectoris and cerebral infarct with increasing exposure to particles. Conclusions This study supports the hypothesis that exposure to welding processed particles increases the risk for cardiovascular disease.
Both G3BP1 and G3BP2 contribute to stress granule formation

Upon exposure to various environmental stresses such as arsenite, hypoxia, and heat shock, cells inhibit their translation and apoptosis and then repair stress‐induced alterations, such as DNA damage and the accumulation of misfolded proteins. These types of stresses induce the formation of cytoplasmic RNA granules called stress granules (SGs). SGs are storage sites for the many mRNAs released from disassembled polysomes under these stress conditions and are essential for the selective translation of stress‐inducible genes. Ras‐GTPase‐activating protein SH3 domain‐binding protein 1 (G3BP1) is a component of SGs that initiates the assembly of SGs by forming a multimer. In this study, we examined the role of G3BP2, a close relative of G3BP1, in SG formation. Although single knockdown of either G3BP1 or G3BP2 in 293T cells partially reduced the number of SG‐positive cells induced by arsenite, the knockdowns of both genes significantly reduced the number. G3BP2 formed a homo‐multimer and a hetero‐multimer with G3BP1. Moreover, like G3BP1, the overexpression of G3BP2 induced SGs even without stress stimuli. Collectively, these results suggest that both G3BP1 and G3BP2 play a role in the formation of SGs in various human cells and thereby recovery from these cellular stresses.
Association of physical activity and prognostic parameters in elderly patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVE Assessment of habitual physical activity (PA) in patients with heart failure. METHODS This study included 50 patients with heart failure (61.9 ± 4.0 yr). Seven days of PA were assessed by questionnaire (AQ), pedometer, and accelerometer and correlated with prognostic markers including VO(2peak), percent left-ventricular ejection fraction, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class. RESULTS Accelerometry showed a stronger correlation with VO(2peak) and NYHA class (R = .73 and R = -.68; p < .001) than AQ (R = .58 and R = -.65; p < .001) or pedometer (R = .52 and R = -.50; p < .001). In the multivariable regression model accelerometry was the only consistent independent predictor of VO(2peak) (p = .002). Moreover, when its accuracy of prediction was tested, 59% of NYHA I and 95% of NYHA III patients were correctly classified into their assigned NYHA classes based on their accelerometer activity. CONCLUSION PA assessed by accelerometer is significantly associated with exercise capacity in patients with heart failure and is predictive of disease severity. The data suggests that PA monitoring can aid in evaluating clinical status.
TRAP-seq Profiling and RNAi-Based Genetic Screens Identify Conserved Glial Genes Required for Adult Drosophila Behavior

Although, glial cells have well characterized functions in the developing and mature brain, it is only in the past decade that roles for these cells in behavior and plasticity have been delineated. Glial astrocytes and glia-neuron signaling, for example, are now known to have important modulatory functions in sleep, circadian behavior, memory and plasticity. To better understand mechanisms of glia-neuron signaling in the context of behavior, we have conducted cell-specific, genome-wide expression profiling of adult Drosophila astrocyte-like brain cells and performed RNA interference (RNAi)-based genetic screens to identify glial factors that regulate behavior. Importantly, our studies demonstrate that adult fly astrocyte-like cells and mouse astrocytes have similar molecular signatures; in contrast, fly astrocytes and surface glia—different classes of glial cells—have distinct expression profiles. Glial-specific expression of 653 RNAi constructs targeting 318 genes identified multiple factors associated with altered locomotor activity, circadian rhythmicity and/or responses to mechanical stress (bang sensitivity). Of interest, 1 of the relevant genes encodes a vesicle recycling factor, 4 encode secreted proteins and 3 encode membrane transporters. These results strongly support the idea that glia-neuron communication is vital for adult behavior.
Phase I clinical trial of AXL1717 for treatment of relapsed malignant astrocytomas: analysis of dose and response

Purpose Early phase I study of safety of AXL1717 in patients with recurrent or progressive malignant astrocytomas and evaluation of preliminary anti-tumor efficacy. Patients and methods Nine patients fulfilling the set criteria were enrolled. Eight had recurrent glioblastoma and one gliosarcoma. Patients were treated with an oral suspension of AXL1717 (215-400 mg bid) cycle-by-cycle in 35-day cycles (28 days bid and 7 days off). Patients with progressive disease and/or toxicity-related dose delay of more than 14 days were withdrawn. Results Four patients had tumor responses (44%) to AXL1717 treatment. Two of these had stable disease for 12 months (10 cycles at 215-300 mg bid). Due to MRI-detected progression they were then taken off the study. They died 8 and 12 months later, respectively. One patient was treated 8 months (6 cycles with 215 mg bid). He was withdrawn because of disease progression but died after another 25 months. The fourth patient having stable disease died of sepsis due to pancytopenia in the end of cycle 2 on 400 mg bid. A fifth patient underwent surgery after two cycles with 300 mg bid. Pathological analysis demonstrated abundant necrosis and small areas of viable tumor. After one more cycle with 300 mg bid he was withdrawn due to clinical and radiographic worsening and died 11 months later. The other 4 patients did not have any detectable responses and died within 3-13 months after trial entry. Neutropenia was the main adverse effect, which was easily detected and reversible in all but one patient. Conclusion This clinical phase I study indicates that AXL1717 as a single agent is capable of producing prolonged stable disease and survival of patients with relapsed malignant astrocytomas. The drug was well tolerated. A new formulation of the drug will be used in further investigations in order to better define the optimal dose.
Resident and Caregiver: Handling Multiple People in a Smart Care Facility

Intelligent environment research has benefited medical care in a number of ways, including emergency detection, comfort and accessibility. However, most of these techniques have been applied in the context of a single resident, leaving out situations where there is more than one person in the living space. A current looming issue for intelligent environment systems is performing these same techniques when multiple residents or care providers are present in the environment. In this paper we investigate the problem of attributing sensor events to individuals in a multi-resident intelligent environment. Specifically, explore and contrast using two different classification techniques. The naive Bayesian and Markov Model classifiers present different capabilities and features for identifying the resident responsible for a unique sensor event. We present results of experimental validation in an intelligent workplace testbed and discuss the unique issues that arise in addressing this challenging problem.
Diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction: eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea challenges identify previously undiagnosed elite athletes with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction

Background There is increasing evidence to suggest many elite athletes fail to recognise and report symptoms of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), supporting the contention that athletes should be screened routinely for EIB. Purpose To screen elite British athletes for EIB using eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea (EVH). Methods 228 elite athletes provided written informed consent and completed an EVH challenge with maximal flow volume loops measured at baseline and 3, 5, 10 and 15 min following EVH. A fall of 10% in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) from baseline was deemed positive. Two-way analysis of variance was conducted to compare FEV1 at baseline and maximal change following EVH between EVH-positive and EVH-negative athletes who did and did not report a previous diagnosis of EIB. Significance was assumed if p≤0.05. Results Following the EVH challenge 78 athletes (34%) demonstrated EVH positive. 57 out of the 78 (73%) athletes who demonstrated EVH positive did not have a previous diagnosis of EIB. 30 athletes reported a previous diagnosis of asthma, nine (30%) of whom demonstrated EVH negative. There was no significant difference between the magnitude of the fall in FEV1 between athletes who reported a previous diagnosis of EIB and demonstrated EVH positive, and those with no previous diagnosis of EIB who demonstrated EVH positive (mean±SD; −21.6±16.1% vs −17.1±9.7%; p=0.07). Conclusion The high proportion of previously undiagnosed athletes who demonstrated EVH positive suggests that elite athletes should be screened routinely for EIB using a suitable bronchoprovocation challenge.
Treatment of an alopecia areata patient with tofacitinib results in regrowth of hair and changes in serum and skin biomarkers

Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA Correspondence: Julian Mackay-Wiggan, MD, MS, Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, 161 Fort Washington Ave, 12 Floor, New York, NY 10032, USA, Tel: +1 (212) 305-6953, Fax: +1 (212) 305-0286, e-mail: jc992@columbia.edu Angela M. Christiano, PhD, Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, 1150 St. Nicholas Ave., 3 Floor, New York, NY 10032, USA, Tel: +1 (212) 851-4800, Fax: +1 (212) 851-4810, e-mail: amc65@columbia.edu Drs. Jabbari and Nguyen contributed equally to this work. Drs. Mackay and Christiano jointly supervised this work.
A comparative study to assess the epidemiological profile & outcome among pregnant and non-pregnant women infected with Influenza A H1N1 attending a tertiary care hospital of southern Rajasthan region of India

Introduction: Pregnant females are at higher risk for development of respiratory complications women mainly because of their altered immunity and physiological adaptations. Compared to non-pregnant individuals, pregnant women are more likely to develop influenzaassociated complications, severe disease, and death. This study is carried out to analyze the epidemiological factors associated with outcome in pregnant women who suffered from H1N1 infection as well as to compare the outcome of HINI infection in pregnant and nonpregnant women. Materials and Methods: Descriptive and hospital based study of all Swine flu positive pregnant and non-pregnant females reported to OPD & admitted in Isolation and ICU from Jan to Dec 2015 were included in the study. The demographic data was collected for each patient and the following details were noted and analyzed: gestational age at diagnosis, duration of hospitalization, place of admission, mechanical ventilation status and maternal neonatal outcome. Results: The study revealed that during study period total 2344 women attended swine flu OPD, out of them 686 women tested by RTPCR. In 282 cases, RT PCR was H1N1 positive. Out of them 147 women were admitted in isolation ward and ICU for further investigation and treatment. Out of 147 admitted confirmed cases, 30 females were pregnant, 67 were admitted in ICU. Total 33 swine positive females were expired, out of them 28 were put on ventilator and 7 were pregnant. Most of the females belong to rural background. Healthcare seeking behaviour was higher in Pregnant female with significantly higher duration of stay in hospital. More pregnant women (69.23%) put on ventilator than non-pregnant (38.89%). Case fatality rate in pregnant females (23.33%) was higher in compare to non-pregnant population (22.22%). Conclusions: Pregnancy is associated with high CFR, longer duration of hospitalization, more need of ICU admission as well as mechanical ventilation. ICU. It may be due to low awareness and late presentation especially in the women belonged to rural areas.
Accurate Distortion Estimation and Optimal Bandwidth Allocation for Scalable H.264 Video Transmission Over MIMO Systems

In this paper, we propose an optimal strategy for the transmission of scalable video over packet-based multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. The scalable extension of H.264/AVC that provides a combined temporal, quality and spatial scalability is used. For given channel conditions, we develop a method for the estimation of the distortion of the received video and propose different error concealment schemes. We show the accuracy of our distortion estimation algorithm in comparison with simulated wireless video transmission with packet errors. In the proposed MIMO system, we employ orthogonal space-time block codes (O-STBC) that guarantee independent transmission of different symbols within the block code. In the proposed constrained bandwidth allocation framework, we use the estimated end-to-end decoder distortion to optimally select the application layer parameters, i.e., quantization parameter (QP) and group of pictures (GOP) size, and physical layer parameters, i.e., rate-compatible turbo (RCPT) code rate and symbol constellation. Results show the substantial performance gain by using different symbol constellations across the scalable layers as compared to a fixed constellation.
Tryptophan Permease Gene TAT2 Confers High-Pressure Growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT Hydrostatic pressure in the range of 15 to 25 MPa was found to cause arrest of the cell cycle in G1 phase in an exponentially growing culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, whereas a pressure of 50 MPa did not. We found that a plasmid carrying the TAT2 gene, which encodes a high-affinity tryptophan permease, enabled the cells to grow under conditions of pressure in the range of 15 to 25 MPa. Additionally, cells expressing the Tat2 protein at high levels became endowed with the ability to grow under low-temperature conditions at 10 or 15°C as well as at high pressure. Hydrostatic pressure significantly inhibited tryptophan uptake into the cells, and the Tat2 protein level was down-regulated by high pressure. The activation volume associated with tryptophan uptake was found to be a large positive value, 46.2 ± 3.85 ml/mol, indicating that there was a net volume increase in a rate-limiting step in tryptophan import. The results showing cell cycle arrest in G1 phase and down-regulation of the Tat2 protein seem to be similar to those observed upon treatment of cells with the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin. Although rapamycin treatment elicited the rapid dephosphorylation of Npr1 and induction of Gap1 expression, hydrostatic pressure did not affect the phosphorylation state of Npr1 and it decreased the level of Gap1 protein, suggesting that the pressure-sensing pathway may be independent of Npr1 function. Here we describe high-pressure sensing in yeast in comparison with the TOR-signaling pathway and discuss an important factor involved in adaptation of organisms to high-pressure environments.
Information Rates of Oversampled Detectors for Transition-Noise-Limited Digital Storage Systems

In this paper, a proposed oversampled detector for digital storage channels affected by transition noise is analyzed in terms of information rates. To this purpose, a simulation-based method is applied to evaluate the information rates. The proposed analysis extends work on the information rates of magnetic recording channels affected by colored Gaussian thermal noise, intersymbol interference and signal-dependent transition noise. The results suggest that oversampling may represent an effective and practical solution for transition-noise-limited digital storage channels.
Development of in vitro Propagation Protocol for Newly Developed Mutants of Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.)

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) is an important commercial cut flower crop. High quality carnation are produced in countries like Italy, Spain, Colombia, Kenya, Israel, SriLanka, Canary Islands, France, Holland, Germany and U.S.A. (Misra et al., 2006). India also has a huge potential of producing carnations and is being cultivated in small pockets in Nasik and Pune in Maharashtra, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Presently, all the area covered under carnation cultivation is occupied by exotic varieties. Due to high cost of planting material of these varieties, large scale cultivation is very limited. Mutation breeding work carried out in the department has resulted in development of flower colour International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 8 Number 04 (2019) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com