Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kinetics and regulation of synthesis of the major polypeptides of thylakoid membranes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii y-1 at elevated temperatures

Etiolated cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii y-1 exhibit rapid and linear initial kinetics of greening when exposed to light at 38 degrees C. The initial rate of chlorophyll accumulation under these conditions is greater than the maximal rate during greening at 25 degrees C. Synthesis of the major polypeptides of thylakoid membranes within intact cells was assayed during greening by the incorporation of [3H]leucine and the subsequent electrophoresis of total cellular protein on polyacrylamide gels in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. At 38 degrees C the major membrane polypeptides (about 28,000 and 24,000 daltons in mass) were synthesized at a linear rate after exposure of the cells to light, with no evidence of a lag period. A 1-2 h preincubation in the dark at the higher temperature was necessary to achieve linear initial kinetics. Actinomycin D inhibited synthesis of the membrane polypeptides if added at the beginning of a 2 h dark preincubation, but not when added near the end. These results suggested that transcription of the messenger RNA for the membrane polypeptides occurred during the dark period at 38 degrees C. But the major membrane polypeptides were not made by y-1 cells in the dark. The wavelengths of light most effective in eliciting production of the membrane polypeptides were the same as those allowing chlorophyll synthesis. In contrast, wild type cells, which are capable of chlorophyll synthesis in the dark, also make the membrane polypeptides in the dark. The data indicate that at elevated temperatures synthesis of the major thylakoid membrane polypeptides is controlled at a posttranscriptional step, and that this reaction normally proceeds only under conditions which permit reduction of protochlorophyllide.
Influence of the population size on the genetic algorithm performance in case of cultivation process modelling

In this paper, an investigation of the influence of the population size on the genetic algorithm (GA) performance for a model parameter identification problem, is considered. The mathematical model of an E. coli fed-batch cultivation process is studied. The three model parameters - maximum specific growth rate (μmax), saturation constant (kS) and yield coefficient (YS/X) are estimated using different population sizes. Population sizes between 5 and 200 chromosomes in the population are tested with constant number of generations. In order to obtain meaningful information about the influence of the population size a considerable number of independent runs of the GA are performed. The observed results show that the optimal population size is 100 chromosomes for 200 generations. In this case accurate model parameters values are obtained in reasonable computational time. Further increase of the population size, above 100 chromosomes, does not improve the solution accuracy. Moreover, the computational time is increased significantly.
Anticipating and Coordinating Voltage Control for Interconnected Power Systems

This paper deals with the application of an anticipating and coordinating feedback control scheme in order to mitigate the long-term voltage instability of multi-area power systems. Each local area is uniquely controlled by a control agent (CA) selecting control values based on model predictive control (MPC) and is possibly operated by an independent transmission system operator (TSO). Each MPC-based CA only knows a detailed local hybrid system model of its own area, employing reduced-order quasi steady-state (QSS) hybrid models of its neighboring areas and even simpler PV models for remote areas, to anticipate (and then optimize) the future behavior of its own area. Moreover, the neighboring CAs agree on communicating their planned future control input sequence in order to coordinate their own control actions. The feasibility of the proposed method for real-time applications is explained, and some practical implementation issues are also discussed. The performance of the method, using time-domain simulation of the Nordic32 test system, is compared with the uncoordinated decentralized MPC (no information exchange among CAs), demonstrating the improved behavior achieved by combining anticipation and coordination. The robustness of the control scheme against modeling uncertainties is also illustrated.
The Nemertine Toxin Anabaseine and Its Derivative DMXBA (GTS-21): Chemical and Pharmacological Properties

Nemertines are a phylum of carnivorous marine worms that possess a variety of alkaloidal, peptidic or proteinaceous toxins that serve as chemical defenses against potential predators. The hoplonemertines additionally envenomate their prey with a mixture of proboscis alkaloids delivered with the help of a calcareous stylet that punctures the skin of the victim. Anabaseine, the first of these alkaloids to be identified, stimulates a wide variety of animal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), especially the neuromuscular [e.g., α12β1γδ (embryogenic) or α12β1γɛ (adult)] and α7 AChRs that are inhibited by the snake peptide α-bungarotoxin. A synthetic derivative, 3-(2,4-Dimethoxybenzylidene)-Anabaseine (DMXBA; also called GTS-21), improves memory in experimental animals and humans and is currently in clinical trials to determine whether it can ameliorate cognitive problems associated with schizophrenia. Here we summarize present knowledge concerning the chemistry and mechanisms of action of these two substances (anabaseine and DMXBA) on AChRs, especially those found in the mammalian brain.
Automatic soil moisture-based drip irrigation for improving tomato production

A low-volume/high frequency (LVHF) soil moisture based drip irrigation system was tested on a commercial tomato farm in south Florida. Seven irrigation treatments were compared. In the first six treatments, the system was pressurized by means of an electrical pump and a pressure tank, and controlled by an irrigation timer (controller) set to irrigate five times per day. The last treatment consisted of the farm's standard commercial practice where a portable pump was used on a twice weekly manual irrigation schedule. Four of the six LVHF treatments resulted from interfacing in a closed control loop with the irrigation controller two types of soil moisture sensors (switching tensiometers and granular matrix sensors) set at two moisture points (wet: 10 cbar, optimal:15 cbar), i.e., irrigation was allowed to start when the soil moisture measured by the sensor was below the set point. The other two LVHF resulted from the same system with no sensors set with the timer at two irrigation schedules, one to supply 100% of the maximum recommended seasonal crop water needs (12 min per irrigation) and the other to supply 150% of those needs (18 min per irrigation). Results from the six LVHF treatments show that tomato yields were not different from that of the commercial field while conserving water. Switching tensiometers at 15 cbar set point performed the best (up to 73% reduction in water use compared with commercial farm practice, and 50% with respect to the 100% recommended crop water needs treatment). Routine maintenance (refilling and pumping) was critical for reliable operation of the switching tensiometers, especially on the driest treatment of 15 cbar where twice weekly routine maintenance is recommended. Granular matrix sensors behaved erratically and did not improve water savings compared with the 100% recommended crop water needs treatment.
Multifractal analysis of Birkhoff averages on ‘self-affine’ symbolic spaces

We achieve on self-affine Sierpinski carpets the multifractal analysis of the Birkhoff averages of potentials satisfying a Dini condition. Given such a potential, the corresponding Hausdorff spectrum cannot be deduced from that of the associated Gibbs measure by a simple transformation. Indeed, these spectra are, respectively, obtained as the Legendre transform of two distinct concave differentiable functions that cannot be deduced from one another by a dilation and a translation. This situation is in contrast to what is observed in the familiar self-similar case. Our results are presented in the framework of almost-multiplicative functions on products of two distinct symbolic spaces and their projection on the associated self-affine carpets.
Association between Floods and Acute Cardiovascular Diseases: A Population-Based Cohort Study Using a Geographic Information System Approach

Background: Floods represent a serious threat to human health beyond the immediate risk of drowning. There is few data on the potential link between floods and direct consequences on health such as on cardiovascular health. This study aimed to explore the impact of one of the worst floods in the history of Quebec, Canada on acute cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Methods: A cohort study with a time series design with multiple control groups was built with the adult population identified in the Quebec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System. A geographic information system approach was used to define the study areas. Logistic regressions were performed to compare the occurrence of CVD between groups. Results: The results showed a 25%–27% increase in the odds in the flooded population in spring 2011 when compared with the population in the same area in springs 2010 and 2012. Besides, an increase up to 69% was observed in individuals with a medical history of CVD. Conclusion: Despite interesting results, the association was not statistically significant. A possible explanation to this result can be that the population affected by the flood was probably too small to provide the statistical power to answer the question, and leaves open a substantial possibility for a real and large effect.
A Systematic Review of Comparative Efficacy of Treatments and Controls for Depression

Background Although previous meta-analyses have examined effects of antidepressants, psychotherapy, and alternative therapies for depression, the efficacy of these treatments alone and in combination has not been systematically compared. We hypothesized that the differences between approved depression treatments and controls would be small. Methods and Findings The authors first reviewed data from Food and Drug Administration Summary Basis of Approval reports of 62 pivotal antidepressant trials consisting of data from 13,802 depressed patients. This was followed by a systematic review of data from 115 published trials evaluating efficacy of psychotherapies and alternative therapies for depression. The published depression trials consisted of 10,310 depressed patients. We assessed the percentage symptom reduction experienced by the patients based on treatment assignment. Overall, antidepressants led to greater symptom reduction compared to placebo among both unpublished FDA data and published trials (F = 38.5, df = 239, p<0.001). In the published trials we noted that the magnitude of symptom reduction with active depression treatments compared to controls was significantly larger when raters evaluating treatment effects were un-blinded compared to the trials with blinded raters (F = 2.17, df = 313, p<0.05). In the blinded trials, the combination of antidepressants and psychotherapy provided a slight advantage over antidepressants (p = 0.027) and psychotherapy (p = 0.022) alone. The magnitude of symptom reduction was greater with psychotherapies compared to placebo (p = 0.019), treatment-as-usual (p = 0.012) and waiting-list (p<0.001). Differences were not seen with psychotherapy compared to antidepressants, alternative therapies or active intervention controls. Conclusions In conclusion, the combination of psychotherapy and antidepressants for depression may provide a slight advantage whereas antidepressants alone and psychotherapy alone are not significantly different from alternative therapies or active intervention controls. These data suggest that type of treatment offered is less important than getting depressed patients involved in an active therapeutic program. Future research should consider whether certain patient profiles might justify a specific treatment modality.
Congenital Left Paraduodenal Hernia Causing Chronic Abdominal Pain and Abdominal Catastrophe

Paraduodenal hernias are the most common type of congenital internal hernia. Because of its overall rare incidence, this entity is often overlooked during initial assessment of the patient. Lack of specific diagnostic criteria also makes diagnosis exceedingly difficult, and the resulting diagnostic delays can lead to tragic outcomes for patients. Despite these perceived barriers to timely diagnosis, there may be specific radiographic findings that, when combined with the appropriate constellation of clinical symptoms, would aid in diagnosis. This patient first presented at 8 years of age with vague symptoms of postprandial emesis, chronic abdominal pain, nausea, and syncope. Over the span of 6 years he was evaluated 2 to 3 times a year with similar complaints, all of which quickly resolved spontaneously. He underwent multiple laboratory, imaging, and endoscopic studies, which were nondiagnostic. It was not until he developed signs of a high-grade obstruction and extremis that he was found to have a large left paraduodenal hernia that had volvulized around the superior mesenteric axis. This resulted in the loss of the entire superior mesenteric axis distribution of the small and large intestine and necrosis of the duodenum. In cases of chronic intermittent obstruction without clear etiology, careful attention and consideration should be given to the constellation of symptoms, imaging studies, and potential use of diagnostic laparoscopy. Increased vigilance by primary care and consulting physicians is necessary to detect this rare but readily correctable condition.
Intergenerational reflections on doctoral supervision in nursing

Abstract Increasing numbers of nurses seek to undertake doctoral education as nursing continues to develop as a discrete area of clinical and theoretical scholarship. Effective supervision is a crucial aspect of doctoral education and has been identified as essential to successful completion of doctoral training. Relatively little, however, is written about the relationship aspects of doctoral supervision in nursing. This paper presents some reflections on doctoral education in nursing from the perspective of four people who have established intergenerational supervisory relationships.
Determination of TiO2, ZrO2, and Al2O3 Nanoparticles on Genotoxic Responses in Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes and Cultured Embyronic Kidney Cells

In this study a genotoxic evaluation of titanium dioxide (TiO2, 2.3 nm), zirconium oxide (ZrO2, 6 nm), aluminum oxide (Al2O3, 16.7 nm) nanoparticles (NP) and their ionic forms was conducted using human peripheral blood lymphocytes and cultured human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells by means of a modified alkaline comet assay with/without the formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) and endonuclease III (Endo III) enzymes. Modifications to the comet assay by using lesion-specific endonucleases, such as Endo III and Fpg, detect DNA bases with oxidative damage. Both human peripheral blood lymphocytes and cultured embryonic kidney cells were incubated with TiO2, ZrO2, or Al2O3 NP at concentrations of 1, 10, or 100 μg/ml. Our results showed no significant induction in DNA damage by the comet assay with/without the Endo III and Fpg enzymes at all concentrations of ZrO2 and Al2O3. In the case of TiO2 NP only the highest concentration of 100 μg/ml significantly induced a genotoxic response. Data thus indicate that both ZrO2 and Al2O3 NP were not genotoxic in our system and in the case of TiO2 the lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) for genotoxicity was 100 μg/ml. Evidence indicates that these metallic NP are considered safe in light of the fact that no genotoxicity was noted with ZrO2 and Al2O3 and that the highest TiO2 concentration is not environmentally relevant.
Jag1b is essential for patterning inner ear sensory cristae by regulating anterior morphogenetic tissue separation and preventing posterior cell death

The sensory patches of the vertebrate inner ear, which contain hair cells and supporting cells, are essential for hearing and balance functions. How the stereotypically organized sensory patches are formed remains to be determined. In this study, we isolated a zebrafish mutant in which the jag1b gene is disrupted by an EGFP insertion. Loss of Jag1b causes cell death in the developing posterior crista and results in downregulation of fgf10a in the posterior prosensory cells. Inhibition of FGFR activity in wild-type embryos also causes loss of the posterior crista, suggesting that Fgf10a mediates Jag1b activity. By contrast, in the anterior prosensory domain, Jag1b regulates separation of a single morphogenetic field into anterior and lateral cristae by flattening cells destined to form a nonsensory epithelium between the two cristae. MAPK activation in the nonsensory epithelium precursors is required for the separation. In the jag1b mutant, MAPK activation and cell flattening are extended to anterior crista primordia, causing loss of anterior crista. More importantly, inhibition of MAPK activity, which blocks the differentiation of nonsensory epithelial cells, generated a fused large crista and extra hair cells. Thus, Jag1b uses two distinct mechanisms to form three sensory cristae in zebrafish. Summary: Jag1b differentially regulates FGF signaling, cell death and cell differentiation during the patterning of anterior and posterior cristae in the zebrafish inner ear.
Coping with occupational problems: the limits of individual efforts.

This analysis considers the effectiveness of four occupational coping efforts: direct action, optimistic comparisons, selective ignoring, and restricted expectations. Two criteria for effectiveness are considered: reduction in occupational distress, and reduction in later occupational problems. Data are drawn from two waves of interviews with a large metropolitan sample. Effectiveness is assessed net of age, gender, socioeconomic status, type, of employment, marital status, number of children, and initial level of difficulty. Lesser efforts to restrict expectations and greater use of optimistic comparisons were associated with lower concurrent occupational distress. as well as with reductions in distress over time. However, none of the coping efforts directly affected later occupational problems; rather, the initial level of difficulty, and characteristics of one's work life-full-time versus part-time, occupational prestige, and income level-were the key influences on later problem levels. When these findings are linked to earlier studies of coping effectiveness for marital and parental problems, they suggest that optimistic comparisons and avoidance of resigned, impotent stances are generally beneficial stances. The findings are also considered in light of recent discussions of social status and emotional distress, and it is concluded that neither lower social status nor female gender is consistently associated with less adaptive coping efforts.
ITSE optimal controller design and achievable performance bounds

This article proposes a methodology to design optimal controllers and to compute achievable performance bounds in the control of linear, stable discrete-time SISO plants. The performance is measured using a time-weighted cost function (ITSE) of the tracking error for a step reference or a step output disturbance, combined with a measure of the energy of the incremental control. The proposed methodology relies on the use of a function space product that, for stable systems, can be defined in both the frequency and the time-domains. The solution technique requires the expansion of stable functions in orthogonal basis. An analytical expression is found for the computation of the optimal coefficients of the expansion. Numerical examples are included to illustrate the results.
Communications for improving policy computation in distributed POMDPs

Distributed Partially Observable Markov Decision Problems (POMDPs) are emerging as a popular approach for modeling multiagent teamwork where a group of agents work together to jointly maximize a reward function. Since the problem of finding the optimal joint policy for a distributed POMDP has been shown to be NEXP-Complete if no assumptions are made about the domain conditions, several locally optimal approaches have emerged as a viable solution. However, the use of communicative actions as part of these locally optimal algorithms has been largely ignored or has been applied only under restrictive assumptions about the domain. In this paper, we show how communicative acts can be explicitly introduced in order to find locally optimal joint policies that allow agents to coordinate better through synchronization achieved via communication. Furthermore, the introduction of communication allows us to develop a novel compact policy representation that results in savings of both space and time which are verified empirically. Finally, through the imposition of constraints on communication such as not going without communicating for more than K steps, even greater space and time savings can be obtained.
Transient Exposure to Low Levels of Insecticide Affects Metabolic Networks of Honeybee Larvae

The survival of a species depends on its capacity to adjust to changing environmental conditions, and new stressors. Such new, anthropogenic stressors include the neonicotinoid class of crop-protecting agents, which have been implicated in the population declines of pollinating insects, including honeybees (Apis mellifera). The low-dose effects of these compounds on larval development and physiological responses have remained largely unknown. Over a period of 15 days, we provided syrup tainted with low levels (2 µg/L−1) of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid to beehives located in the field. We measured transcript levels by RNA sequencing and established lipid profiles using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry from worker-bee larvae of imidacloprid-exposed (IE) and unexposed, control (C) hives. Within a catalogue of 300 differentially expressed transcripts in larvae from IE hives, we detect significant enrichment of genes functioning in lipid-carbohydrate-mitochondrial metabolic networks. Myc-involved transcriptional response to exposure of this neonicotinoid is indicated by overrepresentation of E-box elements in the promoter regions of genes with altered expression. RNA levels for a cluster of genes encoding detoxifying P450 enzymes are elevated, with coordinated downregulation of genes in glycolytic and sugar-metabolising pathways. Expression of the environmentally responsive Hsp90 gene is also reduced, suggesting diminished buffering and stability of the developmental program. The multifaceted, physiological response described here may be of importance to our general understanding of pollinator health. Muscles, for instance, work at high glycolytic rates and flight performance could be impacted should low levels of this evolutionarily novel stressor likewise induce downregulation of energy metabolising genes in adult pollinators.