Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assembly of 5S Ribosomal RNA Is Required at a Specific Step of the Pre-rRNA Processing Pathway

A collection of yeast strains surviving with mutant 5S RNA has been constructed. The mutant strains presented alterations of the nucleolar structure, with less granular component, and a delocalization of the 25S rRNA throughout the nucleoplasm. The 5S RNA mutations affected helix I and resulted in decreased amounts of stable 5S RNA and of the ribosomal 60S subunits. The shortage of 60S subunits was due to a specific defect in the processing of the 27SB precursor RNA that gives rise to the mature 25S and 5.8S rRNA. The processing rate of the 27SB pre-rRNA was specifically delayed, whereas the 27SA and 20S pre-rRNA were processed at a normal rate. The defect was partially corrected by increasing the amount of mutant 5S RNA. We propose that the 5S RNA is recruited by the pre-60S particle and that its recruitment is necessary for the efficient processing of the 27SB RNA precursor. Such a mechanism could ensure that all newly formed mature 60S subunits contain stoichiometric amounts of the three rRNA components.
Challenges and Trends in Analyses of Electric Power Quality Measurement Data

Power quality monitoring has expanded from a means to investigate customer complaints to an integral part of power system performance assessments. Besides special purpose power quality monitors, power quality data are collected from many other monitoring devices on the system (intelligent relays, revenue meters, digital fault recorders, etc.). The result is a tremendous volume of measurement data that is being collected continuously and must be analyzed to determine if there are important conclusions that can be drawn from the data. It is a significant challenge due to the wide range of characteristics involved, ranging from very slow variations in the steady state voltage to microsecond transients and high frequency distortion. This paper describes some of the problems that can be evaluated with both offline and online analyses of power quality measurement data. These applications can dramatically increase the value of power quality monitoring systems and provide the basis for ongoing research into new analysis and characterization methods and signal processing techniques.
Crystal structure of Spa40, the specificity switch for the Shigella flexneri type III secretion system

The pathogenic bacterium Shigella flexneri uses a type III secretion system to inject virulence factors from the bacterial cytosol directly into host cells. The machinery that identifies secretion substrates and controls the export of extracellular components and effector proteins consists of several inner‐membrane and cytoplasmic proteins. One of the inner membrane components, Spa40, belongs to a family of proteins proposed to regulate the switching of substrate specificity of the export apparatus. We show that Spa40 is cleaved within the strictly conserved amino acid sequence NPTH and substitution of the proposed autocatalytic residue abolishes cleavage. Here we also report the crystal structure of the cytoplasmic complex Spa40C and compare it with the recent structures of the homologues from Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. These structures reveal the tight association of the cleaved fragments and show that the conserved NPTH sequence lies on a loop which, when cleaved, swings away from the catalytic N257 residue, resulting in different surface features in this region. This structural rearrangement suggests a mechanism by which non‐cleaving forms of these proteins interfere with correct substrate switching of the apparatus.
Hu-Lu-Ba-Wan Attenuates Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetic Rats through PKC-α/NADPH Oxidase Signaling Pathway

Hu-Lu-Ba-Wan (HLBW) is a Chinese herbal prescription used to treat kidney deficiency. The aim of this study was to explore the effect and mechanism of HLBW on diabetic nephropathy (DN) in type 2 diabetic rats. The rat model of DN was established by being fed a high-fat diet and intravenous injection of streptozotocin. Then, HLBW decoction was administered for 16 weeks. Blood glucose level, lipid profile, renal function, 24-hour total urinary protein, and albumin content were examined. Renal morphology and superoxide anion levels were evaluated. The activity of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and protein kinase C-alpha (PKC-α) related genes expression in renal tissue were also determined. Our data demonstrated that HLBW significantly improved hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and proteinuria in diabetic rats compared with those of control group. HLBW also alleviated glomerular expansion and fibrosis, extracellular matrix accumulation and effacement of the foot processes. Additionally, HLBW reduced superoxide anion level, NADPH oxidase activity, the protein and mRNA expressions of p47phox, and the protein expression of phosphorylated PKC-α in renal tissue. These results suggest that HLBW is effective in the treatment of DN in rats. The underlying mechanism may be related to the attenuation of renal oxidative stress via PKC-α/NADPH oxidase signaling pathway.
Static High Pressure X-Ray Diffraction of TI-6AL-4V

Ti‐6Al‐4V was examined under static‐high pressure conditions using a diamond anvil cell. The angle‐dispersive x‐ray diffraction experiments were performed at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory. Radial and axial geometry were used to examine multiple samples. The purpose of the experiment was to generate pressure‐volume data at room temperature (which is non‐existent in literature) and to examine deviatoric stress effects on such a hard alloy.
The Nuclear Receptor REV-ERBα Regulates Fabp7 and Modulates Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis

The function of the nuclear receptor Rev-erbα (Nr1d1) in the brain is, apart from its role in the circadian clock mechanism, unknown. Therefore, we compared gene expression profiles in the brain between wild-type and Rev-erbα knock-out (KO) animals. We identified fatty acid binding protein 7 (Fabp7, Blbp) as a direct target of repression by REV-ERBα. Loss of Rev-erbα manifested in memory and mood related behavioral phenotypes and led to overexpression of Fabp7 in various brain areas including the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampus, where neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) can initiate adult neurogenesis. We found increased proliferation of hippocampal neurons and loss of its diurnal pattern in Rev-erbα KO mice. In vitro, proliferation and migration of glioblastoma cells were affected by manipulating either Fabp7 expression or REV-ERBα activity. These results suggest an important role of Rev-erbα and Fabp7 in adult neurogenesis, which may open new avenues for treatment of gliomas as well as neurological diseases such as depression and Alzheimer.
Experimental investigation of an eight-qubit unit cell in a superconducting optimization processor

A superconducting chip containing a regular array of flux qubits, tunable interqubit inductive couplers, an XY-addressable readout system, on-chip programmable magnetic memory, and a sparse network of analog control lines has been studied. The architecture of the chip and the infrastructure used to control it were designed to facilitate the implementation of an adiabatic quantum optimization algorithm. The performance of an eight-qubit unit cell on this chip has been characterized by measuring its success in solving a large set of random Ising spin-glass problem instances as a function of temperature. The experimental data are consistent with the predictions of a quantum mechanical model of an eight-qubit system coupled to a thermal environment. These results highlight many of the key practical challenges that we have overcome and those that lie ahead in the quest to realize a functional large-scale adiabatic quantum information processor.
Rubber nanocomposites based on compatibilized NBR/SBR blends using a series of amphiphilic montmorillonites

The montmorillonite (MMT), Mont-0, was treated with different levels of appropriate corresponding amounts of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide to yield a variety of biphasic MMTs exhibiting different hydrophilic–lipophilic balance ranging gradually up to the highly hydrophobic form (Mont-100), which was proved using Fourier transform infrared spectra as well as x-ray diffraction, thus the produced forms can be arranged in the following order according to the decrease in hydrophilicity: Mont-0 > Mont-25 > Mont-50 > Mont-75 > Mont-100. In a following step, the obtained MMTs were attempted for use as reinforcing fillers that may exhibit in the mean time a compatibilizing effect, for acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR)/styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) (50/50) rubber blend, which is known to be physically incompatible. The mechanical performance of the blends comprising different loadings of MMT forms demonstrated advancement in most of the cases accompanied by acceleration in rheometric characteristics indicating enhancement by different extents in compatibility between the phases. The results were explained on the light of the potential of these MMT forms to bind both phases of the blend through hydrophobic–hydrophobic interactions with the nonpolar part (SBR) and polar–polar interactions with the polar part (NBR) of the blend, which diminishes the molecular mobility of the macromolecular chains thus preventing progress in phase separation. These findings were additionally proved using scanning electron microscopy and XRD that confirmed a dependent contribution of both phases in interfacial interactions with the biphasic fillers as a function of the hydrophobization level.
A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model for recombinant human growth hormone effects on induction of insulin-like growth factor I in monkeys.

The pharmacokinetics of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) and its effects on the induction of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were studied in juvenile rhesus monkeys. Disposition profiles of rhGH from two short-term i.v. infusion studies were described by a two-compartment model yielding a clearance of 16.1 ml/min and T1/2 of 2.0 h. Four rhGH treatment groups were included in this study: group A, ProLease rhGH (24 mg), a sustained-release microsphere formulation; group B, a single s.c. injection plus an implanted osmotic pump (24.4 mg); group C, a single s.c. injection (25.9 mg); group D, daily 0.86-mg s.c. injection for 28 days. Their rhGH input profiles were analyzed by a numerical deconvolution method. ProLease and osmotic pump provided zero-order inputs of rhGH and maintained the serum rhGH concentrations around 9 to 13 ng/ml for 16 (group A) and 30 days (group B). For s.c. injections, rhGH underwent first-order absorption. An indirect response model was applied based on use of a Hill function for stimulation of IGF-I production. Parameter values obtained included Smax = 2.2, SC50 = 6.5 ng/ml, and gamma (slope coefficient) = 6.8, which were applicable to all treatments. The area under effect curve showed group B to be most effective for IGF-I induction, whereas group A produced the highest peak level in 16 days. Group C had the lowest induction among the four groups, despite being given the highest dose. Group D had modest IGF-I induction, but the pulsatile rhGH input is less effective than continuous input provided by ProLease. Our pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model demonstrates that ProLease and osmotic pump delivery were best able to maintain rhGH level above the s.c. 50 value, which provided more effective IGF-I induction compared with the single or daily subcutaneous injections in solution.
Developing Large High-Resolution Display Visualizations of High-Fidelity Terrain Data

The vehicle terrain measurement system (VTMS) allows highly detailed terrain modeling and vehicle simulations. Visualization of large-scale terrain datasets taken from VTMS provides better insights into the characteristics of the pavement or road surface. However, the resolution of these terrain datasets greatly exceeds the capability of traditional graphics displays and computer systems. Large high-resolution displays (LHRDs) enable visualization of large-scale VTMS datasets with high resolution, large physical size, scalable rendering performance, advanced interaction methods, and collaboration. This paper investigates beneficial factors, implementation issues, and case study applications of LHRDs for visualizing large, high-fidelity, terrain datasets from VTMS. Two prototype visualizations are designed and evaluated with automotive and pavement engineers to demonstrate effectiveness of LHRDs for multiscale tasks that involve understanding pavement surface details within the overall context of the terrain. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4024656]
Closed-Form Expressions for the Electromagnetic Radiation of Microstrip Signal Traces

An analytical study of the unintentional electromagnetic radiation of a microstrip signal trace is presented. Based on transmission-line theory and appropriate far-field Green's functions, a closed-form solution for the electric field is developed, including the contribution from the vertical terminal connections. It allows calculating the frequency and directional response of the radiated emission, depending on the material and geometrical parameters and terminal load impedances. For the special case of matched termination, the general solution assumes a compact form, allowing to set up a formula for the peak-amplitude frequencies. It is shown that in the higher frequency region, where the wavelength is comparable or shorter than the line length, the frequency-response envelope continuously rises with 20 dB/dec. Based on appropriate simplifications, the asymptotic solution for the electrically short line is deduced, including a practical formula for the maximum electric field. It is found that the usual small-current-loop (magnetic-dipole) estimation is incomplete due to the omission of the electric-dipole contribution.
Global rise in human infectious disease outbreaks

To characterize the change in frequency of infectious disease outbreaks over time worldwide, we encoded and analysed a novel 33-year dataset (1980–2013) of 12 102 outbreaks of 215 human infectious diseases, comprising more than 44 million cases occuring in 219 nations. We merged these records with ecological characteristics of the causal pathogens to examine global temporal trends in the total number of outbreaks, disease richness (number of unique diseases), disease diversity (richness and outbreak evenness) and per capita cases. Bacteria, viruses, zoonotic diseases (originating in animals) and those caused by pathogens transmitted by vector hosts were responsible for the majority of outbreaks in our dataset. After controlling for disease surveillance, communications, geography and host availability, we find the total number and diversity of outbreaks, and richness of causal diseases increased significantly since 1980 (p < 0.0001). When we incorporate Internet usage into the model to control for biased reporting of outbreaks (starting 1990), the overall number of outbreaks and disease richness still increase significantly with time (p < 0.0001), but per capita cases decrease significantly (p = 0.005). Temporal trends in outbreaks differ based on the causal pathogen's taxonomy, host requirements and transmission mode. We discuss our preliminary findings in the context of global disease emergence and surveillance.
Genetic Control of Circuit Function: Vsx1 and Irx5 Transcription Factors Regulate Contrast Adaptation in the Mouse Retina

Transcriptional programs guide the specification of neural cell types in the developing nervous system. However, it is unclear whether such programs also control specific aspects of neural circuit function at maturity. In the mammalian retina, Vsx1 and Irx5 transcription factors are present in a subset of bipolar interneurons that convey signals from photoreceptors to ganglion cells. The biased expression of Vsx1 and Irx5 in hyperpolarizing OFF compared with depolarizing ON bipolar cells suggests that these transcription factors may selectively regulate signal processing in OFF circuits. To test this hypothesis, we generated mice lacking both Vsx1 and Irx5. Bipolar cells in these mice were morphologically normal, but the expression of cell-specific markers in some OFF but not ON bipolar cells was reduced or absent. To assess visual function in Vsx1−/−Irx5−/− retinas, we recorded light responses from ensembles of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). We first identified functional RGC types in control mice and describe their response properties and adaptation to temporal contrast using a simple linear–nonlinear model. We found that space–time receptive fields of RGCs are unchanged in Vsx1−/−Irx5−/− mice compared with control retinas. In contrast, response threshold, gain, and range were lowered in a cell-type-specific manner in OFF but not ON RGCs in Vsx1−/−Irx5−/− retinas. Finally, we discovered that the ability to adapt to temporal contrast is greatly reduced in OFF RGCs in the double mutant, suggesting that Vsx1 and Irx5 control specific aspects of visual function in circuits of the mammalian retina.
Title: " Processing of Kinetic Boundaries in Macaque V4 " Authors

We used gratings and shapes defined by relative motion to investigate selectivity for static kinetic boundaries in macaque V4 neurons. Kinetic gratings were generated by random pixels moving in opposite directions in the neighboring bars, either parallel to the orientation of the boundary (parallel kinetic grating) or perpendicular to the boundary (orthogonal kinetic grating). Neurons were also tested with static, luminance defined gratings to establish cue invariance. In addition, we used 8 shapes defined either by relative motion or by luminance contrast, as used previously by Sary et al. (1993) to test cue invariance in infero-temporal (IT) cortex. A sizeable fraction (10-20%) of the V4 neurons responded selectively to kinetic patterns. Most neurons selective for kinetic contours had receptive fields (RF) within the central 10° of the visual field. Neurons selective for the orientation of kinetic gratings were defined as having similar orientation preferences for the two types of kinetic gratings and the vast majority of these neurons also retained the same orientation preference for luminance defined gratings. Also, kinetic shape selective neurons had similar shape preferences when the shape was defined by relative motion or by luminance contrast, demonstrating a cue-invariant form processing in V4. Although shape selectivity was weaker in V4 than what has been reported in infero-temporal (IT) cortex (Sary et al. 1993), cue invariance was similar in the two areas, suggesting that invariance for luminance and motion cues of IT originates in V4. The neurons selective for kinetic patterns tended to be clustered within dorsal V4.
Effect of a Nutrition Compound (Honey and Water) on Blood Glucose, Body Temperature and Some Physiological Variables in Wrestlers

Many specialists advise athletes to have vitamins, minerals and nutrition compounds to enhanc e sports performance. Honey is one of the best sources of sugar that provides the body with energy quickly without side effects and for prolonged periods of time. Two thirds of the human body consists of water. So, it is considered as a nutrient. The human body loses 1.5 liters of water each day through the skin, lungs, intestines and kidneys (as urine). During training, a wrestler loses huge amounts of water through the skin, due to the high intensity training load. This affects the vital functions of internal body systems as the body loses water and body temperature increases accordingly. Also, heavy sweat lost during training and the increase of internal and external body temperature affects the ability of the wrestler to continue training and competition. The current study tries to decrease the skin temperature and maintaining blood glucose using a compound of honey and water. The researchers used the quasi-experimental approach (one experimental group and pre and post- measurements) on a sample of 7 wrestlers from Baladiat Al-Mahalla Sports Club. Results indicated that the recommended honey and water compound had a significant effect on blood glucose and decreasing skin temperature during training. The recommended compound did not affect internal body temperature
Mechanical Cell-Matrix Feedback Explains Pairwise and Collective Endothelial Cell Behavior In Vitro

In vitro cultures of endothelial cells are a widely used model system of the collective behavior of endothelial cells during vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. When seeded in an extracellular matrix, endothelial cells can form blood vessel-like structures, including vascular networks and sprouts. Endothelial morphogenesis depends on a large number of chemical and mechanical factors, including the compliancy of the extracellular matrix, the available growth factors, the adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix, cell-cell signaling, etc. Although various computational models have been proposed to explain the role of each of these biochemical and biomechanical effects, the understanding of the mechanisms underlying in vitro angiogenesis is still incomplete. Most explanations focus on predicting the whole vascular network or sprout from the underlying cell behavior, and do not check if the same model also correctly captures the intermediate scale: the pairwise cell-cell interactions or single cell responses to ECM mechanics. Here we show, using a hybrid cellular Potts and finite element computational model, that a single set of biologically plausible rules describing (a) the contractile forces that endothelial cells exert on the ECM, (b) the resulting strains in the extracellular matrix, and (c) the cellular response to the strains, suffices for reproducing the behavior of individual endothelial cells and the interactions of endothelial cell pairs in compliant matrices. With the same set of rules, the model also reproduces network formation from scattered cells, and sprouting from endothelial spheroids. Combining the present mechanical model with aspects of previously proposed mechanical and chemical models may lead to a more complete understanding of in vitro angiogenesis.
Two Experiments in Reducing Overconfidence in Spreadsheet Development

This paper describes two experiments that examined overconfidence in spreadsheet development. Overconfidence has been seen widely in spreadsheet development and could account for the rarity of testing by end-user spreadsheet developers. The first experiment studied a new way of measuring overconfidence. It demonstrated that overconfidence really is strong among spreadsheet developers. The second experi - ment attempted to reduce overconfidence by telling subjects in the treatment group the percentage of students who made errors on the task in the past. This warning did reduce overconfidence, and it reduced errors somewhat, although not enough to make spreadsheet development safe.