Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systematic analysis of plant mitochondrial and chloroplast small RNAs suggests organelle-specific mRNA stabilization mechanisms

Land plant organellar genomes encode a small number of genes, many of which are essential for respiration and photosynthesis. Organellar gene expression is characterized by a multitude of RNA processing events that lead to stable, translatable transcripts. RNA binding proteins (RBPs), have been shown to generate and protect transcript termini and eventually induce the accumulation of short RNA footprints. We applied knowledge of such RBP-derived footprints to develop software (sRNA miner) that enables identification of RBP footprints, or other clusters of small RNAs, in organelles. We used this tool to determine mitochondrial and chloroplast cosRNAs (clustered organellar sRNAs) in Arabidopsis. We found that in mitochondria, cosRNAs coincide with transcript 3′-ends, but are largely absent from 5′-ends. In chloroplasts this bias is absent, suggesting a different mode of 5′ processing, possibly owing to different sets of RNases. Furthermore, we identified a large number of cosRNAs that represent silenced insertions of mitochondrial DNA in the nuclear genome of Arabidopsis. Steady-state RNA analyses demonstrate that cosRNAs display differential accumulation during development. Finally, we demonstrate that the chloroplast RBP PPR10 associates in vivo with its cognate cosRNA. A hypothetical role of cosRNAs as competitors of mRNAs for PPR proteins is discussed.
Promoter Sequences of Varicella-Zoster Virus Glycoprotein I Targeted by Cellular Transactivating Factors Sp1 and USF Determine Virulence in Skin and T Cells in SCIDhu Mice In Vivo

ABSTRACT Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glycoprotein I is dispensable in cell culture but necessary for infection of human skin and T cells in SCIDhu mice in vivo. The gI promoter contains an activating upstream sequence that binds the cellular transactivators specificity factor 1 (Sp1) and upstream stimulatory factor (USF) and an open reading frame 29 (ORF29)-responsive element (29RE), which mediates enhancement by ORF29 DNA binding protein of immediate-early 62 (IE62)-induced transcription. Recombinants, rOKAgI-Sp1 and rOKAgI-USF, with two base pair substitutions in Sp1 or USF sites, replicated like rOKA in vitro, but infectivity of rOKAgI-Sp1 was significantly impaired in skin and T cells in vivo. A double mutant, rOKAgI-Sp1/USF, did not replicate in skin but yielded low titers of infectious virus in T cells. The repaired protein, rOKAgI:rep-Sp1/USF, was as infectious as rOKA. Thus, disrupting gI promoter sites for cellular transactivators altered VZV virulence in vivo, with variable consequences related to the cellular factor and the host cell type. Mutations in the 29RE of the gI promoter were made by substituting each of four 10-bp blocks in this region with a 10-bp sequence, GATAACTACA, that was predicted to interfere with enhancer effects of the ORF29 protein. One of these mutants, which was designated rOKAgI-29RE-3, had diminished replication in skin and T cells, indicating that ORF29 protein-mediated enhancement of gI expression contributes to VZV virulence. Mutations within promoters of viral genes that are nonessential in vitro should allow construction of recombinant herpesviruses that have altered virulence in specific host cells in vivo and may be useful for designing herpesviral gene therapy vectors and attenuated viral vaccines.
Formal Framework for Nonlinear Control of PWM AC/DC Boost Rectifiers—Controller Design and Average Performance Analysis

We are considering the problem of controlling filtered AC/DC switched power converters of the boost type. The control objectives are twofold: 1) guaranteeing a regulated voltage for the supplied load and 2) enforcing power factor correction (PFC) with respect to the main supply network. The considered problem is dealt with using a double-loop controller developed on the basis of the system nonlinear model. The inner-loop is designed by the backstepping technique to cope with the PFC issue. The outer-loop is designed to regulate the converter output voltage. Experimental tests show that the proposed controller actually meets the objectives it is designed for. While similar performances have been experimentally demonstrated, for different converters and controllers, it is the first time that a complete and rigorous formal analysis, based on averaging theory, is developed to describe the observed performances (PFC and output voltage ripples). As a matter of fact, the averaging theory constitutes the natural framework to analyzing the performances due to the periodic nature of the system input signals.
Balancing between usability and aesthetics of Web design

Web visual aesthetics and its usability play very important roles in determining the success of the Website. It is difficult to decide which aspect needs to be given more attention when it comes to designing a Website as aesthetics is focusing on the ‘look’ and ‘feel’ while usability is stressing on its functionalities. There is no perfect answer which aspects of the Web design are more important than the others. In addition, it is also difficult to have a balance of these two seemingly contrary objectives of Web design. This research focuses on how to balance the aesthetics design and the usability of Web design. This study also investigates methods to evaluate Web page's usability and aesthetic appeal, the role of these two aspects play in the Website design and also the relationship between these two aspects. The results of study provide a tangible concept on how the Web usability and the Web aesthetics design affect each other and methods to balance between the Web usability and aesthetics design. The contribution of this paper is to provide guiding principle to the Website developer in order to develop a Website which is wellbalance in usability as well as its aesthetics aspect.
A randomized crossover trial to test the effects of positive psychology intervention delivered by text messaging

Abstract Positive psychology (PP) interventions delivered through technology have shown encouraging results. In a crossover design, we randomized 60 participants recruited from the community to two weeks of either text messaging-based PP exercises or control exercises, before being crossed over to receive the other condition. Participants were compensated for maintaining high response rates to the texts. Participants reported greater satisfaction and had higher engagement in the program when PP exercises were received first. Overall, PP exercises did not improve moods significantly more than control exercises. However, baseline depressive symptoms significantly moderated the effect of condition on change in depressive symptoms (p < 0.032) and negative affect (p < 0.006), such that regular completion of exercises resulted in better mood outcomes compared to control exercises for those with high depressive symptoms at baseline. Results suggest that completing PP exercises through text messaging can improve moods in those who have elevated depressive symptoms.
2009 H1N1 Influenza and Experience in Three Critical Care Units

Aim: We describe futures of ICU admission, demographic characteristics, treatment and outcome for critically ill patients with laboratory-confirmed and suspected infection with the H1N1 virus admitted to the three different critical care departments in Turkey. Methods: Retrospective study of critically ill patients with 2009 influenza A(H1N1) at ICU. Demographic data, symptoms, comorbid conditions, and clinical outcomes were collected using a case report form. Results: Critical illness occurred in 61 patients admitted to an ICU with confirmed (n=45) or probable and suspected 2009 influenza A(H1N1). Patients were young (mean, 41.5 years), were female (54%). Fifty-six patients, required mechanical ventilation (14 invasive, 27 noninvasive, 15 both) during the course of ICU. On admission, mean APACHE II score was 18.7±6.3 and median PaO2/FIO2 was 127.9±70.4. 31 patients (50.8%) was die. There were no significant differences in baseline PaO2/FIO2 and ventilation strategies between survivors and nonsurvivors. Patients who survived were more likely to have NIMV use at the time of admission to the ICU. Conclusion: Critical illness from 2009 influenza A(H1N1) in ICU predominantly affects young patients with little major comorbidity and had a high case-fatality rate. NIMV could be used in 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection-related hypoxemic respiratory failure.
Benefits and Challenges of Mobile Learning Implementation: Story of Developing Nations

obile learning (m-learning) is a field that involves the use of mobile computing and wireless technology to enable learning occur anytime, anyplace and anywhere. The implementation strategies of mobile learning are very important for every nation due to the advantages that come with it, e.g. ease of access to education and enhanced interaction between instructors and learners. However, a lot of challenges come with mobile learning implementation, especially with respect to developing nations. This paper highlights on some mobile learning implementation challenges with a focus on Ghana, Africa and developing nations. Furthermore, the paper describes and summarizes how best to strategically overcome the enumerated challenges.
The Value of Biodiversity in Reserve Selection: Representation, Species Weighting, and Benefit Functions

Abstract: The limited availability of resources for conservation has led to the development of many quantitative methods for selecting reserves that aim to maximize the biodiversity value of reserve networks. In published analyses, species are often considered equal, although some are in much greater need of protection than others. Furthermore, representation is usually treated as a threshold: a species is either represented or not, but varying levels of representation over or under a given target level are not valued differently. We propose that a higher representation level should also have higher value. We introduce a framework for reserve selection that includes species weights and benefit functions for under‐ and overrepresentation (number of locations for each species). We applied the method to conservation planning for herb‐rich forests in southern Finland. Our use of benefit functions and weighting changed the identity of about 50% of the selected sites at different funding levels and improved the representation of rare and threatened species. We also identified a small area of additional land that would substantially enhance the existing reserve network. We suggest that benefit functions and species weighting should be considered as standard options in reserve‐selection applications.
Interpersonal Relations and Group Processes Gender, Language, and Influence

Mixed-and same-sex dyads were observed to examine effects of gender composition on language and of language on gender differences in influence. Ss discussed a topic on which they disagreed. Women were more tentative than men, but only in mixed-sex dyads. Women who spoke tentatively were more influential with men and less influential with women. Language had no effect on how influential men were. In a second study, 120 Ss listened to an audiotape of identical persuasive messages presented either by a man or a woman, half of whom spoke tentatively. Female speakers who spoke tentatively were more influential with male Ss and less influential with female Ss than those who spoke assertively. Male speakers were equally influential in each condition. Researchers have reported a wide variety of language differences between the sexes (e. This article focuses on a number of the language differences that have been linked to gender differences in status and power. In particular , it examines the effect of sex composition of dyads on gender differences in language and, in turn, examines how these differences affect social influence. Gender and Status According to expectation states theory, inequalities in face-to-face interactions are a function of the relative status of participants (Berger, Fisek, Norman, & Zelditch, 1977). In this model, status is culture specific and situation dependent. That is, individuals may possess characteristics that reflect relatively low status in one culture or situation but reflect high status or convey no status information in another culture or situation. In American culture, race, class, education, age, occupation, physical attractiveness, and gender can act as diffuse status characteristics , characteristics of a person that are used, particularly in Preliminary analyses were presented at the 97th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 1989, and at the 2nd Annual Convention of the American Psychological Society, June 1990. I thank Michael Dorsey and three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on previous drafts of this article. I also thank Mi-Debbie Rearick for their assistance in collecting, coding, and analyzing the data and for their thoughtful contributions to discussions about the research. People with relatively high status are expected to be more competent, to perform better, and to have more desirable attributes than low status individuals ; they are also given more opportunities to perform well and are, consequently, more influential (Berger et al, 1977, 1980). In addition, in interactions among people who differ …
Nanocurcumin Prevents Hypoxia Induced Stress in Primary Human Ventricular Cardiomyocytes by Maintaining Mitochondrial Homeostasis

Hypoxia induced oxidative stress incurs pathophysiological changes in hypertrophied cardiomyocytes by promoting translocation of p53 to mitochondria. Here, we investigate the cardio-protective efficacy of nanocurcumin in protecting primary human ventricular cardiomyocytes (HVCM) from hypoxia induced damages. Hypoxia induced hypertrophy was confirmed by FITC-phenylalanine uptake assay, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) levels and cell size measurements. Hypoxia induced translocation of p53 was investigated by using mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore blocker cyclosporin A (blocks entry of p53 to mitochondria) and confirmed by western blot and immunofluorescence. Mitochondrial damage in hypertrophied HVCM cells was evaluated by analysing bio-energetic, anti-oxidant and metabolic function and substrate switching form lipids to glucose. Nanocurcumin prevented translocation of p53 to mitochondria by stabilizing mitochondrial membrane potential and de-stressed hypertrophied HVCM cells by significant restoration in lactate, acetyl-coenzyme A, pyruvate and glucose content along with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPKα) activity. Significant restoration in glucose and modulation of GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 levels confirmed that nanocurcumin mediated prevention of substrate switching. Nanocurcumin prevented of mitochondrial stress as confirmed by c-fos/c-jun/p53 signalling. The data indicates decrease in p-300 histone acetyl transferase (HAT) mediated histone acetylation and GATA-4 activation as pharmacological targets of nanocurcumin in preventing hypoxia induced hypertrophy. The study provides an insight into propitious therapeutic effects of nanocurcumin in cardio-protection and usability in clinical applications.
A time- and memory-sharing executive program for quick-response on-line applications

APEX is an experimental operation-oriented on-line data analysis system being developed for the TX-2 Computer at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. This paper describes the executive program which has been designed to satisfy the needs of that system as well as the other activities currently soaking up the computational energies of TX-2. These needs are developed into a set of requirements for a fast-response time-sharing system. The requirements, in turn, lead to a series of design decisions which involve both the hardware and software parts of the system. A memory and program-sharing system, with the hardware to make such a system efficient, takes the form of a complex of apparent computers, one for each console, which share some common hardware (TX-2). The salient characteristics of these computers are described as well as the executive program structure which gives them apparent reality.
Building a dense surface map incrementally from semi-dense point cloud and RGBimages

Building and using maps is a fundamental issue for bionic robots in field applications. A dense surface map, which offers rich visual and geometric information, is an ideal representation of the environment for indoor/outdoor localization, navigation, and recognition tasks of these robots. Since most bionic robots can use only small light-weight laser scanners and cameras to acquire semi-dense point cloud and RGB images, we propose a method to generate a consistent and dense surface map from this kind of semi-dense point cloud and RGB images. The method contains two main steps: (1) generate a dense surface for every single scan of point cloud and its corresponding image(s) and (2) incrementally fuse the dense surface of a new scan into the whole map. In step (1) edge-aware resampling is realized by segmenting the scan of a point cloud in advance and resampling each sub-cloud separately. Noise within the scan is reduced and a dense surface is generated. In step (2) the average surface is estimated probabilistically and the non-coincidence of different scans is eliminated. Experiments demonstrate that our method works well in both indoor and outdoor semi-structured environments where there are regularly shaped objects.
Walking, physical activity and life-space mobility among older people

Tsai, Li-Tang Walking, physical activity and life-space mobility among older people Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2017, 75 p. (Studies in Sport, Physical Education and Health ISSN 0356-1070; 254) ISBN 978-951-39-6964-6 (nid.) ISBN 978-951-39-6965-3 (PDF) Finnish Summary Diss. Autonomy in mobility is a central component of active ageing. Life-space mobility describes where, when, and how an individual reaches desired destinations. Walking, an important form of physical activity among older people, is a prerequisite for engaging in daily activities. This study explored the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between physical activity and life-space mobility. The associations of walking with reasons for going outdoors in different life-space areas, living arrangements, and environmental barriers to mobility were also examined. Data from two larger studies were used: the Life-Space Mobility in Old Age (LISPE) accelerometer substudy (n=174, median age 79.7) and Screening and Counseling for Physical Activity and Mobility in Older People (SCAMOB) (n=657, median age 77.0). Participants were community-dwelling older people living in Central Finland. Physical activity and step count were measured by an accelerometer (Hookie, tri-axial, “AM20 Activity Meter”) for 7 days. Life-space mobility was assessed with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging Life-Space Assessment. Reasons for going outdoors, walking for errands and environmental mobility barriers were self-reported. The cross-sectional analyses showed that life-space mobility correlated with objectively measured physical activity. Over the two-year follow-up, a lower step count and less moderate-intensity physical activity at baseline preceded a significantly steeper decline in life-space mobility. In old age, a higher amount of walking activity was associated with going outdoors for shopping or walking for exercise, living alone, and perceiving fewer environmental mobility barriers. This study indicates more time spent walking outdoors and the accumulation of moderate-intensity physical activity may help to maintain higher lifespace mobility, a correlate of good quality of life. In promoting walking activity among community-dwelling older people, both individual and environmental factors should be taken into account.
Serious Games for Language Learning: How Much Game, How Much AI?

Modern computer games show potential not just for engaging and entertaining users, but also in promoting learning. Game designers employ a range of techniques to promote long-term user engagement and motivation. These techniques are increasingly being employed in so-called serious games, games that have non-entertainment purposes such as education or training. Although such games share the goal of AIED of promoting deep learner engagement with subject matter, the techniques employed are very different. Can AIED technologies complement and enhance serious game design techniques, or does good serious game design render AIED techniques superfluous? This paper explores these questions in the context of the Tactical Language Training System (TLTS), a program that supports rapid acquisition of foreign language and cultural skills. The TLTS combines game design principles and game development tools with learner modelling, pedagogical agents, and pedagogical dramas. Learners carry out missions in a simulated game world, interacting with non-player characters. A virtual aide assists the learners if they run into difficulties, and gives performance feedback in the context of preparatory exercises. Artificial intelligence plays a key role in controlling the behaviour of the non-player characters in the game; intelligent tutoring provides supplementary scaffolding.
Modulation of Long-Term Depression by Dopamine in the Mesolimbic System

Long-lasting adaptations in the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system in response to drugs of abuse likely mediate many of the behavioral changes that underlie addiction. Recent work suggests that long-term changes in synaptic strength at excitatory synapses in the two major components of this system, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area, may be particularly important for the development of drug-induced sensitization, a process that may contribute to addiction, as well as for normal response-reinforcement learning. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recording techniques fromin vitro slice preparations, we have examined the existence and basic mechanisms of long-term depression (LTD) at excitatory synapses on both GABAergic medium spiny neurons in the NAc and dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain. We find that both sets of synapses express LTD but that their basic triggering mechanisms differ. Furthermore, DA blocks the induction of LTD in the midbrain via activation of D2-like receptors but has minimal effects on LTD in the NAc. The existence of LTD in mesolimbic structures and its modulation by DA represent mechanisms that may contribute to the modifications of neural circuitry that mediate reward-related learning as well as the development of addiction.
Democracy and redistribution

Introduction 1. A theory of political transitions 2. Empirical evidence 3. Historical evidence 4. Theoretical extensions: a. Growth, trade, and democracy b. Political institutions 5. Democracy and the public sector 6. The state, the threat of expropriation, and the possibility of development 7. Conclusions.
Microtubule motors transport phagosomes in the RPE, and lack of KLC1 leads to AMD-like pathogenesis

Photoreceptor outer segment (POS) phagosomes associate with the kinesin light chain 1 (KLC1) and move bidirectionally along microtubules in retinal pigment epithelium cells; lack of KLC1 results in impaired POS phagosome motility and degradation and, in aged mice, pathogenesis resembling age-related macular degeneration.