Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FLO 11 gene length and transcriptional level affect biofilm-forming ability of wild flor strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Received 26 February 2009 Revised 22 July 2009 Accepted 28 August 2009 In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, FLO11 encodes an adhesin that is associated with different phenotypes, such as adherence to solid surfaces, hydrophobicity, mat and air–liquid biofilm formation. In the present study, we analysed FLO11 allelic polymorphisms and FLO11-associated phenotypes of 20 flor strains. We identified 13 alleles of different lengths, varying from 3.0 to 6.1 kb, thus demonstrating that FLO11 is highly polymorphic. Two alleles of 3.1 and 5.0 kb were cloned into strain BY4742 to compare the FLO11-associated phenotypes in the same genetic background. We show that there is a significant correlation between biofilm-forming ability and FLO11 length both in different and in the same genetic backgrounds. Moreover, we propose a multiple regression model that allows prediction of air–liquid biofilm-forming ability on the basis of transcription levels and lengths of FLO11 alleles in a population of S. cerevisiae flor strains. Considering that transcriptional differences are only partially explained by the differences in the promoter sequences, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that FLO11 transcription levels are strongly influenced by genetic background and affect biofilm-forming ability.
Dyslipidemia in psoriasis: as a risk for cardiovascular disease -

Background: Psoriasis is a common and recurrent proliferative inflammatory skin disease that has been associated with abnormal plasma lipid metabolism and with high frequency of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The prevalence seems to be related to the severity of psoriasis, as it occurs more frequently in patients presenting with large areas of the body affected with lesions. The aim of our work was to evaluate the development of dyslipidemia in psoriasis, and to look for a correlation between their levels and severity of diseases in which the risk factors and secondary causes of hyperlipidemia were excluded. Methods: We evaluated the fasting lipid profile in twenty-four patients with mild to moderate psoriasis and twenty-four age and gender matched healthy subjects as the control group. Results: Patients presented risk changes in lipid profile, serum total cholesterol (p<0.001), triglyceride (p<0.01), LDL-cholesterol (p<0.001), VLDL-cholesterol (p<0.01) and TC/HDL ratio (p<0.01) were found to be significantly higher than in control group. No significant statistical difference was observed between HDL levels of the two groups. Significant positive correlation in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol was found between mild and moderate psoriasis (PASI score) as compared with controls. Conclusion: Our data suggest that psoriasis patients must be considered as a group at high risk for cardiovascular, since psoriasis per se seems to be associated with risk changes in the lipid profile. We conclude that psoriatic patients should be evaluated and followed up for the risk of hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases.
Microbial production of thioether-stabilized peptides

This thesis describes the successful biological production and secretion of thioether-stabilized therapeutic peptides. The lantibiotic modification- and transport enzymes NisBTC and LtnM2T involved in the synthesis of the lantibiotics nisin and lacticin 3147, respectively, were exploited for the introduction of thioether bridges in nonlantibiotic peptides. Importantly, thioether peptides produced via lantibiotic enzymes contain only one isomer (DL), whereas chemically induced thioether formation can lead to several stereo isomers (i.e. DL, LL, LD and DD). Exploiting the nisin modification enzymes NisB and NisC, we were able to demonstrate for the first time the posttranslational introduction of a thioether bridge in a therapeutic peptide, an analog of angiotensin-(1-7). This therapeutic peptide variant has a significantly improved stability and the effectivity of its interaction with the angiotensin-(1-7) receptor is even enhanced. This cyclized analog of angiotensin-(1-7) is therefore a promising therapeutic peptide candidate for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, other therapeutic peptides may be thioether-stabilized, using lantibiotic synthesis enzymes. By stabilization, these therapeutic peptides are less sensitive to proteolytic breakdown and accordingly need less frequent administration and/or in a lower dose. In addition, stabilization may allow oral and pulmonary delivery. These delivery ways are more patient-friendly than injection. While there are hundreds of medically highly important therapeutic peptides, the pharmaceutical market of already a single therapeutic peptide can have a size of over a billion dollar. Consequently, stabilization of already FDA-approved therapeutic peptide hormones and development of new effective stabilized peptides has a tremendous potential.
Neutron Imaging of Lithium Concentration for Validation of Li-Ion Battery State of Charge Estimation

Abstract : This paper shows how the principle of neutron radiography can be used to indirectly quantify the critical physical state of lithium concentration across battery electrodes at steady-state conditions (after a long relaxation time or small load) as a first step in this important effort to measure in-situ battery physical states and validate electrochemical battery models. A model of the expected loss in beam intensity after passing through the different layers of a battery pouch cell is constructed based on the material densities and dimensions. This model is augmented with simulation of the neutron transmission behavior, including optical effects due to the geometric unsharpness and the detector response. The resulting model provides the basis for a comprehensive simulation of the in-situ metrology of lithium concentration in Li-ion batteries, and comparison with experimental results.
Russian Journal of Genetics

The Tl 13M polymorphism resulting from the missense mutation in exon 5 of the human gene for interleukin 9 (IL9) was tested for association with bronchial asthma (BA). The genotype frequency analysis did not reveal a deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. A comparison of the genotype frequency distributions in a control group of healthy individuals and in patients with BA suggested an association between Tl 13M and the clinical phenotype. However, this association was not confirmed by the affected family-based association control (AFBAC) or the transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT).
Evaluation of diets with sunflower cake as a replacement for fish meal in feeds for Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) production

Sunflower cake (SFC) was evaluated as a partial replacement for conventional protein sources including fishmeal, soybean meal, and mustard oilcake in tilapia feed. Four isonitrogenous (26% crude protein) and isocaloric (354–376 kcal) diets were formulated. Diet-1 (control), Diet-2, Diet-3, and Diet-4 had 0, 30, 40, and 50% SFC inclusion, respectively, replacing fish meal, soybean meal, and mustard oilcake. In Diets 2, 3, and 4, 15% yellow maize was also included as a replacement for rice bran. Average 11.54 g tilapia fingerlings were stocked at density 3.5/ m2 in an earthen pond’s compartments. After 100 days, diets with SFC showed uncompromised growth (P > 0.05) and favorable economics compared to the control diet. Production parameters (feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio) were unaffected by SFC diets (P > 0.05). Proximate analysis of harvested tilapia showed that crude protein and crude lipid content were unaffected by the experimental diets. Income, gross margin, and benefit-cost ratio were not affected by experimental diets. Encouraging growth performance and product quality were accompanied by production costs savings with diets that contained SFC. Improved economics with 40% SFC replacement suggest its potential for commercial tilapia cultivation. Continued efforts to optimize SFC-based diet formulation are recommended.
SkyRAN: a self-organizing LTE RAN in the sky

We envision a flexible, dynamic airborne LTE infrastructure built upon Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (UAVs) that will provide on-demand, on-time, network access, anywhere. In this paper, we design, implement and evaluate SkyRAN, a self-organizing UAV-based LTE RAN (Radio Access Network) that is a key component of this UAV LTE infrastructure network. SkyRAN determines the UAV's operating position in 3D airspace so as to optimize connectivity to all the UEs on the ground. It realizes this by overcoming various challenges in constructing and maintaining radio environment maps to UEs that guide the UAV's position in real-time. SkyRAN is designed to be scalable in that it can be quickly deployed to provide efficient connectivity even over a larger area. It is adaptive in that it reacts to changes in the terrain and UE mobility, to maximize LTE coverage performance while minimizing operating overhead. We implement SkyRAN on a DJI Matrice 600 Pro drone and evaluate it over a 90 000 m2 operating area. Our testbed results indicate that SkyRAN can place the UAV in the optimal location with about 30 secs of a measurement flight. On an average, SkyRAN achieves a throughput of 0.9 - 0.95X of optimal, which is about 1.5 - 2X over other popular baseline schemes.
On the sources of uranium in some Scottish Caledonian granites

Abstract The lead isotope systematics, zircon uranium concentrations and whole-rock rubidium concentrations of 11 Scottish Caledonian granites are examined for clues to the origin of their uranium. A positive correlation between U in zircon and initial lead isotope ratios suggests that U and Pb were derived from the same source which, as some of these granites contain their U in inherited zircons, is likely to have been within the crust. It is argued, therefore, that most of the uranium in these granites had a crustal derivation but lead isotope ratios indicate that any Lewisian contribution was minor in comparison with those from postulated Grenville, Morarian or Caledonian metamorphic reservoirs. However, additional data are required before this conclusion can be extended to include uraniferous Caledonian granites such as Cairngorm.
Prevalence of self-reported disability, activity limitation and social participation in Sri Lanka

Introduction The World Health Organization estimates that 15% of the global population has a disability. Available evidence from Sri Lanka shows variable estimates of the magnitude of disability. Objectives Determine the prevalence of self-reported disability in the adult population aged ≥18 years, and associated risk factors in a nationally representative sample in Sri Lanka. Methods The Washington Group short questionnaire was used to identify persons with self-reported disability. Data were collected from responsible adults aged ≥18 years in the selected households. A four point-scale: “no difficulty”, “some difficulty”, “a lot of difficulty” and “cannot do at all” was used. Individuals screening positive for disability were administered an additional questionnaire on activity limitations, social participation and their health and financial concerns. Results Overall 41.5% (4131) [95% CI: 40.5-42.4] reported functional difficulty in at least one domain. The prevalence of disability, i.e. a lot of difficulty or cannot do at all was 3.8% (382) [95% CI: 3.5 – 4.2], while the prevalence of “some functional difficulty” was 37.6% (3749) [95% CI: 36.7-38.6]. The prevalence of disability increased with age and was higher among females, urban residents, and those with lower education and socio-economic status. Minor degrees of functional difficulties were more common among older people, females and people with lower education. Conclusions The prevalence of disability and varying degrees of functional difficulty is high among the adult population of Sri Lanka. Evidence shows that a strategic plan is required to address the magnitude of disability and functional limitations in Sri Lanka.
Inhibition of IDO 1 suppresses cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and decreases proliferation , adhesion and invasion of endometrial stromal cells

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) is an intracellular enzyme that catalyses essential amino acid tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of IDO1 expression on the biological characteristic of the endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). IDO1, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in endometriotic ectopic stromal cells, endometriosis-derived eutopic stromal cells and normal ESCs (control) were detected by the in-cell Western analysis. After being treated with lipopolysaccharide, levo-1-methyl-tryptophan (L-1-MT) alone or a combination, a comparative analysis of the above protein expression was evaluated. The effects of IDO1 on ESCs proliferation, adhesion and invasion were detected through ELISA, adhesion assay and Matrigel invasion assay, respectively. The results showed that, contrary to healthy ESCs from control women, the expression of IDO1 was significantly higher in eutopic and ectopic ESCs obtained from women with endometriosis. Inhibition of IDO1 by L-1-MT suppressed the expression of COX-2 and MMP-9 in ESCs. It could also decrease the ESCs proliferation, adhesion and invasion, while stimulating ESCs decidualization. Thus, IDO1 is possibly involved in endometriosis pathogenesis via promoting COX-2 and MMP-9 expression and regulation of ESCs biological characteristics. The information may be useful for developing a new therapeutic strategy for endometriosis.
Phylogenetic inference and trait evolution of the psychedelic mushroom genus Psilocybe sensu lato (Agaricales)

The genus Psilocybe contains iconic species of fungi renowned for their hallucinogenic properties. Recently, Psilocybe also included non-hallucinogenic species that have since been shifted to the genus Deconica. Here, we reconstruct a multigene phylogeny for Psilocybe, Deconica, and other exemplars of the families Hymenogastraceae and Strophariaceae sensu stricto (s. str.), using three nuclear markers (nLSU-rRNA, 5.8S rRNA, and rpb1). Our results confirm the monophyly of Deconica within Strophariaceae s. str. , as well as numerous robust infrageneric relationships. Psilocybe is also recovered as a monophyletic group in the Hymenogastraceae, in which two principal lineages are recognized, including several nested subgroups. Most sections of Psilocybe following classifications based on morphological features are not supported in these analyses. Ancestral character state reconstruction analyses suggest that basidiospore shape in frontal view and spore wall thickness, commonly used to characterize sections in .
Price volatility and the political economy of resource-rich nations

This paper attempts to understand how price volatility affects the political transition of a resource-rich nation. Two states reflect price volatility: 'high prices' and 'low prices'. We argue that whether or not political transition (i.e., a switch from one regime to another) will take place in a particular state depends critically on the kind of goods a country produces. If the main economic activity in a country is the extraction of "point-source" resources such as oil that demands capital-intensive production, the opportunity cost of switching the existing regime does not alter if the price of the resource changes but the benefit becomes more lucrative. Therefore, the incumbent group is most vulnerable during 'high prices'. If the main economic activity of the nations is the production of "diffused resources" that requires labor such as coffee, prices do affect the opportunity cost. Nations concentrating in these commodities, face acute political crisis during downturns.
Mg/O2 Battery Based on the Magnesium-Aluminum Chloride Complex (MACC)

: Mg/O 2 cells employing a MgCl 2 /AlCl 3 /DME (MACC/DME) electrolyte are cycled and compared to cells with modified Grignard electrolytes, showing that performance of magnesium/oxygen batteries depends strongly on electrolyte composition. Discharge capacity is far greater for MACC/DME-based cells, while rechargeability in these systems is severely limited. The Mg/O 2 -MACC/DME discharge product comprises a mixture of Mg(ClO 4 ) 2 and MgCl 2 , with the latter likely formed from slow decomposition of the former. The presence of Cl in these compounds suggests that the electrolyte participates in the cell reaction, or reacts readily with the initial electrochemical products. A rate study suggests that O 2 diffusion in the electrolyte limits discharge capacities at higher currents. Formation of an insulating product film on the positive electrodes of Mg/O 2 -MACC/DME cells following deep discharge increases cell impedance substantially, and likely explains the poor rechargeability. An additional impedance rise consistent with film formation on the Mg negative electrode suggests the presence of detrimental O 2 crossover. Minimizing O 2 crossover and bypassing charge transfer through the discharge product would improve battery performance.
Reconstrucción de algunas sequías a través de anillos de crecimiento para el norte de México

El impacto histórico de las sequías en la estabilidad social y económica de la población en el norte de México demanda de un mejor conocimiento de la variabilidad interanual y multianual del clima, que afecta particularmente la disponibilidad hídrica y, por ende, la producción de alimentos, así como para el propio consumo humano. De esta forma, los análisis dendroclimáticos pueden definir la frecuencia de estas sequías extremas, su comportamiento pasado y sus tendencias; por ello, se emplearon como proxy los anillos de crecimiento de Pseudotsuga menziesii, con el objetivo de analizar la variabilidad hidroclimática en tres estados del norte de México. Se desarrollaron tres series de tiempo dendrocronológicas de anillo total con una extensión de 75 a 99 años, que mostraron una intercorrelación entre series en un intervalo de 0.56 a 0.72. La reconstrucción de precipitación invierno-primavera indicó gran variabilidad interanual y decenal de los patrones de precipitación para las áreas de estudio. Sequías severas se reconstruyeron para los periodos (1919 a 1924, 1948 a 1963, 1969 a 1979, 1988 a 2001 y del 2008 al 2014). Al analizar la variabilidad de fenómenos de circulación general como El Niño Oscilación del Sur en las áreas de estudio se obtuvieron correlaciones positivas que variaron de 0.40 a 0.41, lo cual supone que, a pesar de la distancia entre sitios (mayor de 500 km en línea recta), fue posible identificar periodos de sequía comunes, los cuales demostraron los efectos que tiene la tele-conexión de El Niño en la variabilidad hidroclimática para el norte de México.
The Moderating Role of Job Satisfaction Facets on Customer-Facing Employees ’ Reactions to Corporate Social Responsibility : Preliminary Results from India and the Netherlands

This study develops a framework which predicts the idiosyncratic impact of CSR associations on customer-facing employees’ behavioral outcomes using job satisfaction facets and cultural factors as moderating variables. Results identify a compensatory effect between CSR associations and satisfaction with the job itself, and a non-compensatory effect between CSR association and satisfaction with pay. Cultural factors and/or macroeconomic measures are likely to moderate the contingent effects of CSR associations on customer-facing employees’
Effects of focused meditation on difficulties in emotion regulation and trait anxiety.

Meditation has been increasingly studied and applied as a form of mental training that seeks to foster healthier emotion regulation. This study investigated whether 6 weeks of training focused meditation (FM; n 35) improves emotion regulation processes (i.e., general emotion dysregulation and difficulties in regulatory strategies) and emotion regulation outcomes (i.e., state and trait anxiety) in healthy college students compared with progressive relaxation (PR; n 37) and a wait-list control (WLC) group (n 27). Based on an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, only the FM group exhibited improvements in total emotion dysregulation, particularly 2 strategies (i.e., limited access to effective emotion regulation strategies and nonacceptance of emotional responses), and trait anxiety. The weekly frequency of practice correlated with lower limited access to effective emotion regulation strategies, impulse control difficulties, and lack of emotional clarity only among meditators. Additionally, reductions of emotion dysregulation correlated with reductions of trait anxiety. Conceptual considerations regarding the relationship between the type of meditation and emotion regulation processes are discussed. The present study provides evidence of the potential therapeutic efficacy of meditation.
Spouse similarity in recollections of parenting received: A study in a nonclinical sample

Despite a large body of research on both children's relationships to their parents and adult dyadic relationships, associations between these types of relationships have rarely been studied. In this paper, spouse similarity in recollections of parenting received in childhood was assessed in a nonclinical sample. Parenting by the same- and opposite-sex parent was measured using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Spouse similarity was found with respect to the recalled level of care received from the same-sex parent. This correlation was independent of similarity in sociodemographic variables or current psychiatric symptomatology. The fact that spouse similarity did not increase with increasing age suggests that similarity is a result of assortative mating rather than convergence during marriage. These results suggest a significant association between parent-child relationships and the mating process.
RESULTS OF THE IRIS 4 IRRADIATION IN OSIRIS REACTOR : OXIDIZED UMO PARTICLES DISPERSED IN AL ( WITH 0 OR 2 . 1 % SI )

The IRIS4 irradiation is the current step of the French U-Mo irradiation program to test an advanced oxidized U-Mo dispersion fuel for the Jules Horowitz research Reactor. The irradiation of three of the four full-size plates has to be stopped because their thickness increase at MPF has reached the maximal acceptable value in the OSIRIS reactor without pillowing. The fourth plate is still in pile. Based on the plate thickness increases measured at each reactor intercycle, the effect of the tailored oxide layer at the interface between fuel particles and aluminum matrix and the silicon added to the matrix is discussed:  compared with the IRIS2 results, this effect is positive and seems to reduce or delay the interaction between U-Mo particles and aluminum matrix,  however, considering the IRIS3 experiment, this effect seems not to be cumulative with the positive effect of the silicon added to the aluminum matrix.
High commitment performance management: the roles of justice and trust

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between employees' perceptions of a particular subsystem of HRM practices (performance management) and their commitment to the organisation. In addition, the study seeks to examine the mechanisms by which these perceptions translate into employee attitudes and behaviours.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 524 questionnaire responses were collected from four organisations in the UK.Findings – The findings show that the link between employee experiences of high commitment performance management (HCPM) practices and their level of commitment is strongly mediated by related perceptions of organisational justice. In addition, the level of employee trust in the organisation is a significant moderator.Research limitations/implications – This is a cross‐sectional study based on self‐report data, which limits the reliability of the findings. The findings may also be specific to a particular context. However, the results by company support the.