Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NONLINEAR SMALL-SCALE DYNAMOS AT LOW MAGNETIC PRANDTL NUMBERS

Saturated small-scale dynamo solutions driven by isotropic non-helical turbulence are presented at low magnetic Prandtl numbers PrM down to 0.01. For PrM < 0.1, most of the energy is dissipated via Joule heat and, in agreement with earlier results for helical large-scale dynamos, kinetic energy dissipation is shown to diminish proportional to Pr1/2M down to values of 0.1. In agreement with earlier work, there is, in addition to a short Golitsyn k−11/3 spectrum near the resistive scale, also some evidence for a short k−1 spectrum on larger scales. The rms magnetic field strength of the small-scale dynamo is found to depend only weakly on the value of PrM and decreases by about a factor of two as PrM is decreased from 1 to 0.01. The possibility of dynamo action at PrM = 0.1 in the nonlinear regime is argued to be a consequence of a suppression of the bottleneck seen in the kinetic energy spectrum in the absence of a dynamo and, more generally, a suppression of kinetic energy near the dissipation wavenumber.
The Arabidopsis MUM2 Gene Encodes a β-Galactosidase Required for the Production of Seed Coat Mucilage with Correct Hydration Properties[W]

Seed coat development in Arabidopsis thaliana involves a complex pathway where cells of the outer integument differentiate into a highly specialized cell type after fertilization. One aspect of this developmental process involves the secretion of a large amount of pectinaceous mucilage into the apoplast. When the mature seed coat is exposed to water, this mucilage expands to break the primary cell wall and encapsulate the seed. The mucilage-modified2 (mum2) mutant is characterized by a failure to extrude mucilage on hydration, although mucilage is produced as normal during development. The defect in mum2 appears to reside in the mucilage itself, as mucilage fails to expand even when the barrier of the primary cell wall is removed. We have cloned the MUM2 gene and expressed recombinant MUM2 protein, which has β-galactosidase activity. Biochemical analysis of the mum2 mucilage reveals alterations in pectins that are consistent with a defect in β-galactosidase activity, and we have demonstrated that MUM2 is localized to the cell wall. We propose that MUM2 is involved in modifying mucilage to allow it to expand upon hydration, establishing a link between the galactosyl side-chain structure of pectin and its physical properties.
Studies on Functional Sites of Organic Cation/Carnitine Transporter OCTN2 (SLC22A5) Using a Ser467Cys Mutant Protein

The organic cation/carnitine transporter OCTN2 mediates transport of carnitine and organic cations in Na+-dependent and Na+-independent manners, respectively. However, the mechanism of molecular recognition of different substrates has not been clarified yet. We previously found a single amino acid change in OCTN2, Ser467Cys (S467C), in the Japanese population and observed a decreased carnitine transport but unchanged organic cation transport compared with wild type. Therefore, we conducted detailed kinetic and functional analyses of the substrate recognition sites of wild-type and S467C-mutant OCTN2. The K m value for carnitine of S467C-mutant was increased about 15-fold over that of the wild type. Mutual inhibition kinetics of carnitine and tetraethylammonium (TEA) were not completely competitive, suggesting that the binding sites are very close to each other, but not identical. Several organic anions such as valproate, as well as organic cations, significantly inhibited carnitine and TEA uptake by OCTN2, and valproate showed Na+-dependent inhibition of OCTN2-mediated TEA uptake. The Na+-activation kinetics of the S467C mutant was similar to that of the wild type. Furthermore, a significant decrease of the TEA uptake-inhibitory potency of valproate was observed in S467C-mutant OCTN2. These observations suggest that the decrease in affinity of S467C-mutant OCTN2 for carnitine was caused by functional alteration of the anion (carboxyl moiety of carnitine) recognition site located in trans-membrane domain 11, which is closely related to the Na+-binding site, on OCTN2 protein. These results demonstrate that OCTN2 has functional sites for carnitine and Na+ and that the carnitine-binding site is involved, in part, in the recognition of organic cations.
Faving Reciprocity in Content Sharing Communities: A Comparative Analysis of Flickr and Twitter

In the Web 2.0 era, users share and discover interesting content via a network of relationships created in various social networking or content sharing sites. They can become for example contacts, followers or friends and express their appreciation of specific content uploaded by their peers by faving, retweeting or liking them depending on whether they are in Flickr, Twitter or Facebook respectively. Then they can discover additional content of interest through the lists of favorites of their contacts and so on. This faving (or favoring) functionality becomes thus a central part of content sharing communities for two purposes: (a) it helps the propagation of content amongst users and (b) it stimulates users' participation and activity. In this paper, we make a first step to understand users' faving behavior in content sharing communities in terms of reciprocity using publicly available datasets from Flickr and Twitter. Do users favor content only when they really appreciate it or they often feel the need to reciprocate when their content is appreciated by one of their contacts or even by a stranger? Do people take advantage of this process to gain popularity? What is the impact of the design, the social software, of a specific community and the type of content shared? These are some of the questions that our first results help to answer.
Load Transfer in an Isolated Particle Embedded within an Epoxy Matrix

Particulate composites are widely used in many aerospace applications such as protective coatings, adhesives, or structural members of a body and their mechanical properties and behavior have gained increasing significance. The addition of modifiers such as alumina generally leads to improved mechanical properties. This addition also enables the non-invasive study of the load transfer between the particle and the matrix. Understanding the load transfer between the particulate and the matrix material is the first step to understanding the behavior and mechanical properties of the composite as a whole. In this work, samples with an isolated alumina particle embedded in an epoxy matrix were created to replicate the ideal assumptions for many particulate mechanics models. In separate experiments, both photo stimulated luminescent spectroscopy (PSLS) and synchrotron radiation were used to collect the spectral emission and diffraction rings, respectively, from the mechanically loaded samples. The PSLS data and XRD data are shown to be in qualitative agreement that as particle size is increased, the load transferred to the particle also increased for the range of particle sizes tested. This trend of increasing load transfer with increasing particle size is compared with the classical Eshelby model. Results from this work provide experimental insight into the load transfer properties of particulate composites and can serve to experimentally validate the theoretical load transfer models that currently exist.
Gingival crevicular fluid matrix metalloproteinase-8 levels following adjunctive use of meloxicam and initial phase of periodontal therapy.

BACKGROUND The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of adjunctive meloxicam on the matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) levels of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in chronic periodontitis patients following the initial phase of periodontal therapy. METHODS Twelve chronic periodontitis patients received 7.5 mg meloxicam, and 10 patients received placebo tablets together with scaling and root planing in a 1 x 1 regimen for 10 days. Scaling and root planing were performed on day 3 of drug intake. The MMP-8 levels in GCF samples obtained before and on day 10 of drug intake were determined by using the immunofluorescence assay. Plaque index (PI), papilla bleeding index (PBI), and GCF MMP-8 levels were compared within each patient group, between the 2 patient groups, and also with a clinically healthy control group using non-parametric statistical analyses. RESULTS Both meloxicam and placebo groups showed statistically significant reductions in PBI, PI, and GCF MMP-8 levels on day 10 compared to baseline (P<0.01). The GCF MMP-8 level on day 10 in the meloxicam group was similar to the clinically healthy control group (P>0.05), while it was significantly higher in the placebo group (P<0.01). Positive correlations were found between MMP-8 total amounts and PBI scores at baseline and day 10 of drug intake in the patient groups. CONCLUSIONS Meloxicam showed a tendency to reduce GCF MMP-8 levels in vivo within the first 10 days when used as an adjunct in the initial phase of periodontal treatment that consists of scaling and root planing. Verification of this effect on collagenase-2 downregulation, as well as on the clinical periodontal parameters in long-term studies using larger test and control groups, is needed to provide further support for the adjunctive use of selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.
Effect of Posture Change on the Geometric Features of the Healthy Carotid Bifurcation

Segmented cross-sectional MRI images were used to construct 3-D virtual models of the carotid bifurcation in ten healthy volunteers. Geometric features, such as bifurcation angle, internal carotid artery (ICA) angle, planarity angle, asymmetry angle, tortuosity, curvature, bifurcation area ratio, ICA/common carotid artery (CCA), external carotid artery (ECA)/CCA, and ECA/ICA diameter ratios, were calculated for both carotids in two head postures: 1) the supine neutral position; and 2) the prone sleeping position with head rotation to the right (~80°). The results obtained have shown that head rotation causes 1) significant variations in bifurcation angle [32% mean increase for the right carotid (RC) and 21% mean decrease for the left carotid (LC)] and internal carotid artery angle (97% mean increase for the RC, 43% mean decrease for the LC); 2) a slight increase in planarity and asymmetry angles for both RC and LC; 3) minor and variable curvature changes for the CCA and for the branches; 4) slight tortuosity changes for the braches but not for the CCA; and 5) unsubstantial alterations in area and diameter ratios (percentage changes <;10%). The significant geometric changes observed in most subjects with head posture may also cause significant changes in bifurcation hemodynamics and warrant future investigation of the hemodynamic parameters related to the development of atherosclerotic disease such as low oscillating wall shear stress and particle residence times.
Transcriptional activation of the Escherichia coli bgl operon: negative regulation by DNA structural elements near the promoter

The bgl operon of Escherichia coli is transcriptionally inactive in wild‐type cells. DNA insertion sequences (IS) constitute a major class of spontaneous mutations that activate the cryptic bgl promoter. In an attempt to study the molecular mechanism of activation mediated by insertion sequences, transcription of the bgl promoter was carried out in vitro. Stimulation of transcription is observed when a plasmid containing an insertionally activated bgl promoter is used as a template in the absence of proteins other than RNA polymerase. Deletions that remove sequences upstream of the bgl promoter, and insertion of a 1.2 kb DNA fragment encoding resistance to kanamycin, activate the promoter. Point mutations within a region of dyad symmetry upstream of the promoter, which has the potential to extrude into a cruciform structure under torsional stress, also lead to activation. Introduction of a sequence with dyad symmetry, upstream of an activated bgl promoter carrying a deletion of upstream sequences, results in a fourfold reduction in transcription. These results suggest that the cryptic nature of the bgl promoter is because of the presence of DNA structural elements near the promoter that negatively affect transcription.
New 3/4-Approximation Algorithms for the Maximum Satisfiability Problem

Yannakakis recently presented the first $\frac{3}{4}$-approximation algorithm for the Maximum Satisfiability Problem (MAX SAT). His algorithm makes nontrivial use of solutions to maximum flow problems. New, simple $\frac{3}{4}$-approximation algorithms that apply the probabilistic method/randomized rounding to the solution to a linear programming relaxation of MAX SAT are presented. It is shown that although standard randomized rounding does not give a good approximate result, the best solution of the two given by randomized rounding and a well-known algorithm of Johnson is always within $\frac{3}{4}$ of the optimal solution. It is further shown that an unusual twist on randomized rounding also yields $\frac{3}{4}$-approximation algorithms. As a by-product of the analysis, a tight worst-case analysis of the relative duality gap of the linear programming relaxation is obtained.
Centrally Controlled Dynamic Spectrum Access for MANETs

In this paper, we describe an approach to address increased demand for spectrum access associated with widespread deployment of Mobile Adhoc Networks (MANETs) in a military environment. Our solution is an approach that we call "MANET Real-Time Frequency Management" (MRFM) that uses centralized control to achieve deconfliction with the background Electromagnetic Environment (EME) and among the mobile MANETs. Our approach automates frequency reuse among MANETs and automates MANET spectrum sharing with background systems using a centralized reasoner and control mechanism. Our system, which runs as an external application, collects MANET radio state information in real time, applies spectrum policies, performs spectrum deconfliction and controls the frequencies used by the MANET remotely. Our approach does not require any modifications to the radio physical, media access or link layer protocols (the "waveform"). The use of our system provides an expedient approach to enable Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) capabilities to MANET radios that currently do not have such capabilities without requiring modifications to the radio waveform or the radio itself. To validate the MRFM concept, we implemented MRFM in a prototype system that was successfully demonstrated in several tests.
Soluble Methane Monooxygenase Gene Clusters from Trichloroethylene-Degrading Methylomonas sp. Strains and Detection of Methanotrophs during In Situ Bioremediation

ABSTRACT The soluble MMO (sMMO) gene clusters from group I methanotrophs were characterized. An 8.1-kb KpnI fragment fromMethylomonas sp. strain KSWIII and a 7.5-kbSalI fragment from Methylomonas sp. strain KSPIII which contained the sMMO gene clusters were cloned and sequenced. The sequences of these two fragments were almost identical. The sMMO gene clusters in the fragment consisted of six open reading frames which were 52 to 79% similar to the corresponding genes of previously described sMMO gene clusters of the group II and group X methanotrophs. The phylogenetic analysis of the predicted amino acid sequences of sMMO demonstrated that the sMMOs from these strains were closer to that from M. capsulatus Bath in the group X methanotrophs than to those from Methylosinus trichosporiumOB3b and Methylocystis sp. strain M in the group II methanotrophs. Based on the sequence data of sMMO genes of our strains and other methanotrophs, we designed a new PCR primer to amplify sMMO gene fragments of all the known methanotrophs harboring themmoX gene. The primer set was successfully used for detecting methanotrophs in the groundwater of trichloroethylene-contaminated sites during in situ-biostimulation treatments.
Incidence of Intraocular Pressure Elevation following Intravitreal Ranibizumab (Lucentis) for Age-related Macular Degeneration

ABSTRACT Aim The aim of this article is to evaluate the rate of patients developing sustained elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) after ranibizumab (Lucentis) intravitreal (IVT) injections. Design This is a retrospective study. Participants Charts of 192 consecutive patients receiving Lucentis for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were retrospectively reviewed. Materials and methods We enrolled patients with at least two IOP measurements between injections. Elevated IOP was defined as >21 mm Hg with an increase of at least 20% from baseline. Noninjected contralateral eyes of the same patient cohort were used as control. Main outcome measures Primary outcome was defined as elevated IOP. Secondary outcomes were presence and type of glaucoma, number of injections, and time to IOP elevation. Results Elevated IOP occurred at a significantly higher rate in eyes receiving IVT ranibizumab (7.47%; n = 9) compared with control (0.93%; n = 1). Patients with preexisting glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT) were more likely to develop elevated IOP after IVT ranibizumab injection. Conclusion Intravitreal ranibizumab injections are associated with sustained IOP elevation in some eyes. How to cite this article Reis GMSM, Grigg J, Chua B, Lee A, Lim R, Higgins R, Martins A, Goldberg I, Clement CI. The Incidence of Intraocular Pressure Elevation following Intravitreal Ranibizumab (Lucentis) for Age-related Macular Degeneration. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2017;11(1):3-7.
Theoretical analysis of FRP stress distribution in U jacketed RC beams

ABSTRACT: Reinforced concrete (RC) beams may be strengthened for shear with externally bonded fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites through one of three common schemes: complete wrapping, U jacketing, and bonding on their sides only. The two main shear failure modes in such strengthened beams are FRP rupture and FRP debonding. In both failure modes, the stress (or strain) distribution in the FRP at the ultimate state is non-uniform and is a key factor influencing the contribution of the FRP to the shear capacity of the beam. This paper presents a theoretical study on the stress distribution in the FRP along the critical shear crack at debonding failure of U jacketed beams for several assumed crack width variations using a rigorous FRP-to-concrete bond-slip model. Numerical results show that Chen and Teng’s [1, 2] simple assumption of stress distributions in the FRP results in satisfactory predictions of the shear strength. 1. INTRODUCTION Extensive research has been conducted on the strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with externally bonded fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites [1-16]. RC beams can be strengthened through complete wrapping, U jacketing or bonding on their sides only. The main shear failure modes in shear-strengthened beams are FRP rupture and FRP debonding [14, 15]. In both failure modes, the stress (or strain) distribution in the FRP at the ultimate state is non-uniform and a key factor influencing the contribution of the FRP to the shear capacity of the beam for all three strengthening schemes mentioned above [2, 16]. Based on a number of simple but rational assumptions, Chen and Teng [2,16] proposed methods for predicting the maximum values of the FRP stress and the stress distribution factors at the ultimate limit state for both failure modes. Among the above three strengthening schemes, U jacketing is probably the most commonly used in practice. Complete wrapping, although most effective, is often difficult to implement in application (e.g. difficult to apply to T beams unless holes are cut through the flange), whilst side bonding is the least effective [13]. Both FRP rupture and FRP debonding can occur in U jacketed beams. This paper presents a simple theoretical study on the stress distribution in the FRP along the critical shear crack at debonding failure in U jacketed beams. A recently developed FRP-to-concrete bond-slip model [17] is used in the analysis. Several idealised crack width variations, which are closely related to the FRP slip field due to the critical shear crack, are investigated. The results are compared with Chen and Teng’s [2] simple predictive model. For convenience of description, the bonded FRP reinforcement is assumed to be in the form of strips, with a continuous sheet being a special case or a smeared equivalent representation of strips. Depending on the context, either strips or sheets may be used to refer to the bonded FRP reinforcement.
Elastic Modulus Model Based on Dislocation Density and its Application on Aluminum Alloy 5052

An elastic modulus model is proposed to describe the phenomenon of the material’s elastic modulus varying with plastic strain. This elastic modulus model is theoretically interpreted using the dislocation density as an internal variant. Loading-unloading-reloading (LUR) tensile tests have been implemented to analyze the non-linear unloading behavior. The maximum decrease of the elastic modulus of AA5052 is approximately 16%. The proposed model is introduced into the springback simulation of U-bending. The results showed that the contour of springback simulation with the proposed elastic modulus model is closer to that of the experimental data than results of constant elastic modulus simulation. Error in the springback simulation with the proposed elastic modulus model can be reduced by up to 20% compared with that predicted with a constant elastic modulus.
Augmenting String-to-Tree Translation Models with Fuzzy Use of Source-side Syntax

Due to its explicit modeling of the grammaticality of the output via target-side syntax, the string-to-tree model has been shown to be one of the most successful syntax-based translation models. However, a major limitation of this model is that it does not utilize any useful syntactic information on the source side. In this paper, we analyze the difficulties of incorporating source syntax in a string-to-tree model. We then propose a new way to use the source syntax in a fuzzy manner, both in source syntactic annotation and in rule matching. We further explore three algorithms in rule matching: 0-1 matching, likelihood matching, and deep similarity matching. Our method not only guarantees grammatical output with an explicit target tree, but also enables the system to choose the proper translation rules via fuzzy use of the source syntax. Our extensive experiments have shown significant improvements over the state-of-the-art string-to-tree system.
Fundamental Components of the Gameplay Experience: Analysing Immersion

This paper presents a gameplay experience model, assesses its potential as a tool for research and presents some directions for future work. The presented model was born from observations among game-playing children and their non-player parents, which directed us to have a closer look at the complex nature of gameplay experience. Our research led into a heuristic gameplay experience model that identifies some of the key components and processes that are relevant in the experience of gameplay, with a particular focus on immersion. The model includes three components: sensory, challenge-based and imaginative immersion (SCI-model). The classification was assessed with self-evaluation questionnaires filled in by informants who played different popular games. It was found that the gameplay experiences related to these games did indeed differ as expected in terms of the identified three immersion components.