Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two Nucleolar Proteins, GDP1 and OLI2, Function As Ribosome Biogenesis Factors and Are Preferentially Involved in Promotion of Leaf Cell Proliferation without Strongly Affecting Leaf Adaxial–Abaxial Patterning in Arabidopsis thaliana

Leaf abaxial–adaxial patterning is dependent on the mutual repression of leaf polarity genes expressed either adaxially or abaxially. In Arabidopsis thaliana, this process is strongly affected by mutations in ribosomal protein genes and in ribosome biogenesis genes in a sensitized genetic background, such as asymmetric leaves2 (as2). Most ribosome-related mutants by themselves do not show leaf abaxialization, and one of their typical phenotypes is the formation of pointed rather than rounded leaves. In this study, we characterized two ribosome-related mutants to understand how ribosome biogenesis is linked to several aspects of leaf development. Previously, we isolated oligocellula2 (oli2) which exhibits the pointed-leaf phenotype and has a cell proliferation defect. OLI2 encodes a homolog of Nop2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a ribosome biogenesis factor involved in pre-60S subunit maturation. In this study, we found another pointed-leaf mutant that carries a mutation in a gene encoding an uncharacterized protein with a G-patch domain. Similar to oli2, this mutant, named g-patch domain protein1 (gdp1), has a reduced number of leaf cells. In addition, gdp1 oli2 double mutants showed a strong genetic interaction such that they synergistically impaired cell proliferation in leaves and produced markedly larger cells. On the other hand, they showed additive phenotypes when combined with several known ribosomal protein mutants. Furthermore, these mutants have a defect in pre-rRNA processing. GDP1 and OLI2 are strongly expressed in tissues with high cell proliferation activity, and GDP1-GFP and GFP-OLI2 are localized in the nucleolus. These results suggest that OLI2 and GDP1 are involved in ribosome biogenesis. We then examined the effects of gdp1 and oli2 on adaxial–abaxial patterning by crossing them with as2. Interestingly, neither gdp1 nor oli2 strongly enhanced the leaf polarity defect of as2. Similar results were obtained with as2 gdp1 oli2 triple mutants although they showed severe growth defects. These results suggest that the leaf abaxialization phenotype induced by ribosome-related mutations is not merely the result of a general growth defect and that there may be a sensitive process in the ribosome biogenesis pathway that affects adaxial–abaxial patterning when compromised by a mutation.
Matching Knowledge Users with Knowledge Creators using Text Mining Techniques

Matching knowledge users with knowledge creators from multiple data sources that share very little similarity in data representation is a key problem. Solving this problem is anticipated to result in an improved research commercialization output. This problem is challenged mainly by two issues: (a) creating a single data structure that combines data retrieved from different sources, and (b) identifying a methodology that presents an optimized solution using state-of-the-art text mining techniques. The matching process is solved using a combination of unsupervised and supervised classification models. Surprisingly, experimental results show that K-NN classification model slightly outperforms its competition when evaluated under a variety of commonly used performance measures. Results on the adopted Part of Speech (POS) tagger show that while it slightly improves accuracy, execution time is largely affected. After identifying the best-suited methodology, system architecture is designed. An important part of this paper is the prototype application that is developed as a first attempt to realizing finings of this research.
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit Mdα6 from Musca domestica is diversified via post‐transcriptional modification

Recent studies showed that deletion of a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit gene, Dα6 in Drosophila melanogaster results in a strain that is resistant to spinosad, indicating that Dα6 is important for the toxic action of this insecticide. To determine if spinosad resistance in house flies was due to a mutation(s) of Mdα6 (the orthologue of Dα6 from house flies), cDNAs were cloned and characterized from an insecticide‐susceptible and a spinosad‐resistant strain of the house fly, Musca domestica. The cDNAs contain a 1470‐bp open reading frame encoding 490 amino acid residues, 415‐bp 5′ untranslated region (UTR) and a polymorphic 3′‐UTR of ∼371 bp. The predicted mature protein possesses 468 amino acid residues, has the typical features of a nAChR α subunit and is 97% identical to Dα6. Quantitative real‐time PCR analysis revealed that Mdα6 was expressed in the head and the thorax at 1300‐ and 26‐fold higher levels, respectively, than in the abdomen. There was no difference in the expression level of Mdα6 between spinosad‐resistant and susceptible strains. Ten isoforms arising from alternative splicing were characterized, with isoform II being most common. A‐to‐I RNA editing was examined and found at 12 sites: editing at 11 of these sites resulted in an amino acid substitution. Mdα6 is linked to autosome 1 (spinosad resistance was previously shown to be linked to autosome 1). Single nucleotide polymorphisms, alternative splicing, mRNA levels and A‐to‐I RNA editing were compared between head and thorax and between insecticide‐susceptible and spinosad‐resistant strains. These comparisons indicate that Mdα6 is not responsible for spinosad resistance in house flies.
Frequency dependence of HF stimulation threshold for blockage of pathological nerve impulses propagation

Current trends clearly indicate that new non-invasive methods for treatment of neurological diseases are quite searching. A lot of accepted methods used now are invasive and have many side effects. It is therefore desirable to replace conventional pharmacological and surgical treatment with electrical stimulation wherever possible. Herein, we utilized high frequency (HF) stimulation of suitable parameters to discontinue propagation of pathological (low frequency) nerve impulses. The Frankenhaeuser-Huxley (FH) nerve fibre model was used to analyze nerve impulse propagation block. The nerve fibre was modeled using differential equations and computed numerically in Matlab, and the frequency dependence of HF stimuli threshold required for complete block is studied.
The Megophthalmidia (Diptera, Mycetophilidae) of North America including eight new species

Abstract Megophthalmidia Dziedzicki is a small leiine genus (Mycetophilidae) with seven species described from the Neotropics and ten species from the Palearctic region. Two species of Megophthalmidia have been reported for North America. Recent collecting of Mycetophilidae in California and Arizona, however, shows current North American diversity of Megophthalmidia is at least on par to other regions of the world. Eight new species of Megophthalmidia are described here, increasing the number of Nearctic Megophthalmidia species to nine. Included is a particularly atypical member of the genus, M. saskia sp. n. , which expands the genus concept of Megophthalmidia. Of the two species previously recorded for North America, only one actually belongs in the genus. Megophthalmidia occidentalis Johannsen, is fully described and illustrated. The other named species, M. marceda (Sherman) is illustrated and transferred to the genus Ectrepesthoneura Enderlein. A lectotype is designated for this species. A key to the species of Megophthalmidia of North America is provided. The biology of these flies is not yet known. Three of the new Megophthalmidia species – M. lenimenta, M. misericordia, and M. radiata – are only known to occur within small protected areas within the California State Park and UC Natural Reserve systems.
Increased AQP 2 targeting in primary cultured IMCD cells in response to angiotensin II through AT 1 receptor

Lee YJ, Song IK, Jang KJ, Nielsen J, Frøkiær J, Nielsen S, Kwon TH. Increased AQP2 targeting in primary cultured IMCD cells in response to angiotensin II through AT1 receptor. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 292: F340–F350, 2007. First published August 8, 2006; doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00090. 2006. —Vasopressin and angiotensin II (ANG II) play a major role in renal water and Na reabsorption. We previously demonstrated that ANG II AT1 receptor blockade decreases dDAVP-induced water reabsorption and AQP2 levels in rats, suggesting cross talk between these two peptide hormones (Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 288: F673–F684, 2005). To directly address this issue, primary cultured inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells from male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated for 15 min with 1) vehicle, 2) ANG II, 3) ANG II the AT1 receptor blocker candesartan, 4) dDAVP, 5) ANG II dDAVP, or 6) ANG II dDAVP candesartan. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that 10 8 M ANG II or 10 11 M dDAVP (protocol 1) was associated with increased AQP2 labeling of the plasma membrane and decreased cytoplasmic labeling, respectively. cAMP levels increased significantly in response to 10 8 M ANG II and were potentiated by cotreatment with 10 11 M dDAVP. Consistent with this finding, immunoblotting revealed that this cotreatment significantly increased expression of phosphorylated AQP2. ANG II-induced AQP2 targeting was blocked by 10 5 M candesartan. In protocol 2, treatment with a lower concentration of dDAVP (10 12 M) or ANG II (10 9 M) did not change subcellular AQP2 distribution, whereas 10 12 M dDAVP 10 9 M ANG II enhanced AQP2 targeting. This effect was inhibited by cotreatment with 10 5 M candesartan. ANG II-induced cAMP accumulation and AQP2 targeting were inhibited by inhibition of PKC activity. In conclusion, ANG II plays a role in the regulation of AQP2 targeting to the plasma membrane in IMCD cells through AT1 receptor activation and potentiates the effect of dDAVP on AQP2 plasma membrane targeting.
Heme oxygenase‐1 affects generation and spontaneous cardiac differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells

Cellular stress can influence efficiency of iPSCs generation and their differentiation. However, the role of intracellular cytoprotective factors in these processes is still not well known. Therefore, we investigated the effect of HO‐1 (Hmox1) or Nrf2 (Nfe2l2), two major cytoprotective genes. Hmox1–/– fibroblasts demonstrated decreased reprogramming efficiency in comparison to Hmox1+/+ cells. Reversely, pharmacological enhancement of HO‐1 resulted in higher number of iPSCs colonies. Importantly, elevated level of both p53 and p53‐regulated miR‐34a and 14‐3‐3σ was observed in HO‐1‐deficient fibroblasts whereas downregulation of p53 in these cells markedly increased their reprogramming efficiency. In human fibroblasts HO‐1 silencing also induced p53 expression and affected reprogramming outcome. Hmox1+/+ and Hmox1–/– iPSCs similarly differentiated in vitro to cells originating from three germ layers, however, lower number of contracting cells was observed during this process in HO‐1‐deficient cells indicating attenuated cardiac differentiation. Importantly, silencing of Hmox1 in murine ESC using CRISPR/Cas‐9 editing also impaired their spontaneous cardiac differentiation. Decreased reprogramming efficiency was also observed in Nrf2‐lacking fibroblasts. Reversely, sulforaphane, a Nrf2 activator, increased the number of iPSCs colonies. However, both Nfe2l2+/+ and Nfe2l2–/– iPSCs showed similar pluripotency and differentiation capacity. These results indicate that regulation of HO‐1 expression can further optimize generation and cardiac differentiation of iPSCs. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(2):129–142, 2018
Website design evaluation: Comparison of telecommunication websites in Malaysia

Whilst telecommunication adoption within Malaysia is widespread, the number of website activities related to mobile phone usage/marketing is declining or static. The study has investigated four telecommunication websites, which had the same content and constant information structure, to be evaluated using heuristics evaluation method. The subjects included thirty two final year undergraduate students who took the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) course at the School of Informatics, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. The purpose of this research is to analyze the general characteristics of website which is important to mobile users when using their service provider's websites. The result provides empirical evidence that any user interfaces designed for the general public should not only be easy to learn, but must also be aesthetically pleasing. Results indicate there is a critical need to have formal training among websites' stakeholders in approaching technology management during this age of fundamental change. The study could be more precise if conducted directly with people who actually use the websites and/or are involved in the design.
Reasons for leaving nursing: A study among Turkish nurses

Abstract Background: Reasons for the growing nursing shortage are often complex and multidimensional. Aim: To explore the phenomenon of why Turkish nurses leave nursing. Methods: The sample in this descriptive study was 134 nurses who had left the profession. A snowball sampling method was used to identify subjects and multiple methods were used to elicit reasons for leaving. Data analysis included descriptive statistics. Results: The main reasons for leaving nursing were related to unsatisfactory working conditions and a negative perception of nursing. Of the respondents, 69.4% received education in a non-nursing field. The most popular career choice was teaching (27.6%). The results of this study indicate that working conditions and public opinion adversely affect a nurse’s interest in the profession. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate a need to improve working conditions and to approach this subject from a multidimensional perspective.
The Implications of Objectification Theory for Women's Health: Menstrual Suppression and “Maternal Request” Cesarean Delivery

Menstrual suppression with oral contraceptives and cesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR) are relatively new options for women and increasingly are available, particularly in developed countries, around the world. In this article, I explore these issues using objectification theory as a framework for deconstruction. I offer a provocative hypothesis: Women who objectify their bodies are not only interested in menstrual suppression, but also in surgicalized childbirth at their request. I argue that because patriarchal societies have aligned women's reproductive functions with nature, disinterest in menstruation and vaginal childbirth has become another way for women to separate themselves from their “earthly” nature and transform or maintain their bodies as idealized cultural symbols.
Effects of E×B velocity shear and magnetic shear on turbulence and transport in magnetic confinement devices

One of the scientific success stories of fusion research over the past decade is the development of the ExB shear stabilization model to explain the formation of transport barriers in magnetic confinement devices. This model was originally developed to explain the transport barrier formed at the plasma edge in tokamaks after the L (low) to H (high) transition. This concept has the universality needed to explain the edge transport barriers seen in limiter and divertor tokamaks, stellarators, and mirror machines. More recently, this model has been applied to explain the further confinement improvement from H (high)-mode to VH (very high)-mode seen in some tokamaks, where the edge transport barrier becomes wider. Most recently, this paradigm has been applied to the core transport barriers formed in plasmas with negative or low magnetic shear in the plasma core. These examples of confinement improvement are of considerable physical interest; it is not often that a system self-organizes to a higher energy state with reduced turbulence and transport when an additional source of free energy is applied to it. The transport decrease that is associated with ExB velocity shear effects also has significant practical consequences for fusion research. The fundamental physics involved in transport reduction is the effect of ExB shear on the growth, radial extent and phase correlation of turbulent eddies in the plasma. The same fundamental transport reduction process can be operational in various portions of the plasma because there are a number ways to change the radial electric field Er. An important theme in this area is the synergistic effect of ExB velocity shear and magnetic shear. Although the ExB velocity shear appears to have an effect on broader classes of microturbulence, magnetic shear can mitigate some potentially harmful effects of ExB velocity shear and facilitate turbulence stabilization.
Developmental expression of sarcoglycan gene products in cultured myocytes.

The sarcoglycan complex consists of four membrane-spanning proteins and was shown to be exclusively distributed in striated muscles. In this study, we analyzed the pattern of expression of the mRNAs and proteins of the sarcoglycan subunits during cell differentiation in a culture of myocytes. All four sarcoglycan mRNAs were detectable in proliferating cells, and expression of the alpha- and gamma-subunits was up-regulated by 20- and 50-fold following muscle cell fusion. However, sarcoglycan proteins were scarcely detectable in proliferating cells and were first detected 2 days after the induction to be differentiated. The accumulation of the sarcoglycan protein subunits was accompanied by cell differentiation. The discrepancy between the expression of the mRNAs and proteins of the sarcoglycan subunits in proliferating cells may be ascribed to rapid degradation of the protein.
Mapping of the dopant compensation effects on the reverse and forward characteristics of solar cells

The effect of doping compensation on the electrical and photovoltaic properties of Silicon (Si) wafers and solar cells are mapped on peculiar wafers taken from a highly doped and compensated ingot. Extensive mapping characterizations were performed at the material (carrier density and mobility) and at the solar cell levels (I-V parameters under illumination, breakdown voltages). One of the striking features of this work is that, despite the high concentrations of doping impurities in the substrates, most solar cells feature breakdown voltages high enough to allow standard module architectures to be used.
Activation of murine dendritic cells and macrophages induced by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

Macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen‐presenting cells (APCs), and the direct involvement of both cell types in the immune response to Salmonella has been identified. In this study we analysed the phenotypic and functional changes that take place in murine macrophages and DCs in response to live and heat‐killed Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Both types of cell secreted proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in response to live and heat‐killed salmonellae. Bacterial stimulation also resulted in up‐regulation of costimulatory molecules on macrophages and DCs. The expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules by macrophages and DCs was differentially regulated by interferon (IFN)‐γ and salmonellae. Live and heat‐killed salmonellae as well as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibited the up‐regulation of MHC class II expression induced by IFN‐γ on macrophages but not on DCs. Macrophages as well as DCs presented Salmonella‐derived antigen to CD4 T cells, although DCs were much more efficient than macrophages at stimulating CD4 T‐cell cytokine release. Macrophages are effective in the uptake and killing of bacteria whilst DCs specialize in antigen presentation. This study showed that the viability of salmonellae was not essential for activation of APCs but, unlike live bacteria, prolonged contact with heat‐killed bacteria was necessary to obtain maximal expression of the activation markers studied.
Genetic robustness and selection at the protein level for synonymous codons

Synonymous codons are neutral at the protein level, therefore natural selection at the protein level should have no effect on their frequencies. Synonymous codons, however, differ in their capacity to reduce the effects of errors: after mutation, certain codons keep on coding for the same amino acid or for amino acids with similar properties, while other synonymous codons produce very different amino acids. Therefore, the impact of errors on a coding sequence (genetic robustness) can be measured by analysing its codon usage. I analyse the codon usage of sequenced nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes and I show that there is an extensive variation in genetic robustness at the DNA sequence level, both among genomes and among genes of the same genome. I also show theoretically that robustness can be adaptive, that is natural selection may lead to a preference for codons that reduce the impact of errors. If selection occurs only among the mutants of a codon (e.g. among the progeny before the adult phase), however, the codons that are more sensitive to the effects of mutations may increase in frequency because they manage to get rid more easily of deleterious mutations. I also suggest other possible explanations for the evolution of genetic robustness at the codon level.
Distributed Target Tracking in Wireless Sensor Networks With Data Association Uncertainty

This letter considers distributed target tracking in the presence of data association uncertainty. Some known algorithm has been developed where the minimum mean square error approach is utilized to deal with the data association process. However, the computed covariance of global estimate can become non-positive semidefinite when multiple sensors exist, which induces that it can not be performed in some simulations. We develop a novel distributed algorithm where the maximum a posteriori approach is utilized to deal with the data association process. The novel algorithm can ensure that the computed covariance of global estimate is positive semidefinite at all time and it can be performed for all simulations.