Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Observations with Idealized Model Results for a Method to Resolve Winter Lake-Effect Mesoscale Morphology

Abstract Forecasters in the Great Lakes region have for several decades recognized a general relationship of wind speed and overlake fetch to lake-effect snowstorm morphology. A recent study using idealized mesoscale model simulations of lake-effect conditions over circular and elliptical lakes showed the ratio of wind speed to maximum fetch distance (U/L) may be used to effectively predict lake-effect snowstorm morphology. The current investigation provides an assessment of the U/L criteria using observational datasets. Previously published Great Lakes lake-effect snowstorm observational studies were used to identify events of known mesoscale morphology. Hindcasts of nearly 640 lake-effect events were performed using historical observations with U/L as the predictor. Results show that the quantity U/L contains important information on the different mesoscale lake-effect morphologies; however, it provides only a limited benefit when being used to predict mesoscale morphology in real lake-effect situations.
Evaluation of Multiangle Absorption Photometry for Measuring Aerosol Light Absorption

A new multiangle absorption photometer for the measurement of aerosol light absorption was recently introduced that builds on the simultaneous measurement of radiation transmitted through and scattered back from a particle-loaded fiber filter at multiple detection angles. The absorption coefficient of the filter-deposited aerosol is calculated from the optical properties of the entire filter system, which are determined by a two-stream-approximation radiative transfer scheme. In the course of the Reno Aerosol Optics Study (RAOS), the response characteristics of multiangle absorption photometry (MAAP) for white aerosol, pure black carbon aerosol from different sources, external mixtures of black and white aerosol, and ambient aerosol was investigated. The MAAP response characteristics were compared to basic filter transmittance and filter reflectance measurements. MAAP showed close agreement with a reference absorption measurement by extinction minus scattering. The slopes of regression lines vary between 0.99 ± 0.01 and 1.07 ± 0.02 for pure black carbon particles and external mixtures with ammonium sulphate to 1.03 ± 0.05 for ambient aerosol. No effect of the filter aerosol loading or the single-scattering albedo ω0 of the sampled aerosol on the MAAP response characteristics was observed. In contrast, transmittance and reflectance methods showed a clear impact of ω0 and the filter loading on the response characteristics, which requires the application of a correction function for the reliable determination of the aerosol absorption coefficient. In the case of nonabsorbing aerosol, the MAAP approach reduced the magnitude of the apparently measured absorption coefficient by one order of magnitude compared to a basic transmittance measurement.
Experimental investigation on some electrical parameters of In 10 x Sn x Se 90 ( x 1⁄4 2 , 4 , 6 , and 8 ) chalcogenide glasses before and after g-irradiation

Some electrical parameters of In10 xSnxSe90 (x 1⁄4 2, 4, 6, and 8) chalcogenide glasses before and after girradiation, at doses of 8, 16 and 32 kGy, are reported and discussed. IeV measurements, for both unirradiated and gamma irradiated glasses, have been carried out in the temperature range of 170e290 K for different electric fields. The recorded IeV characteristics reveal that the studied glasses exhibit ohmic and non-ohmic behavior at low and high fields, respectively. Analysis of the experimental data, for unirradiated and gamma irradiated samples, in the high field range confirms the presence of space charge limited conduction (SCLC) in the glasses under investigation, while conduction mechanism in low temperature region occurs via variable range hopping (VRH) of charge carriers in the band tail of the localized states. The DC conductivity is found to increase with Sn concentration up to 6 at. % of Sn, after which it decreases. The post gamma irradiation conductivity is, in general, improved at moderated doses i.e., 8 and 16 kGy. The density of localized states N(EF), before and after irradiation, is increased with incorporation of Sn up to 6 at. %, after which a drastic decrease is observed to occur. This is attributed to an increase in the average single bond energy of In2Sn8Se90 which decreases the conductivity and the density of localized states for this particular composition. The hopping energy W and hopping distance Rhop have also been calculated and their values agree fairly well with the concept of (VRH) model and are in support of our results regarding the behavior of the electrical conductivity. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
No effect of group size on sex allocation in a protandric-simultaneous hermaphroditic shrimp

Lysmata wurdemanni is a protandric-simultaneous hermaphroditic shrimp. Individuals reproduce as males first and late in life as simultaneous hermaphrodites. I examined whether sex allocation (resources devoted to ova vs sperm) varies with group size in shrimps that have just matured as hermaphrodites. Focal males were reared with different numbers of hermaphrodites (1, 2, 5 or 10). Sperm stored in the ejaculatory ducts and eggs brooded underneath the abdomen were retrieved and weighted immediately after focal shrimps matured as hermaphrodites. Hermaphrodites should invest more into sperm with increasing group size to cope with more intense sperm competition. The proportion of focal shrimps that lost their first clutch of eggs after maturing as hermaphrodites increased with group size. This suggests male gender preferences by hermaphrodites experiencing large group sizes. No differences in sex allocation among group sizes were recorded for shrimps that did not lose their first clutch of eggs. Thus, group size does not affect sex allocation in terms of ova and sperm mass. This lack of phenotypic plasticity might be explained if sperm competition is not important in L. wurdemanni. It should not pay in terms of fitness for shrimps to produce and inseminate female-role hermaphrodites with large amounts of sperm when full paternity is assured in the absence of multi-male mating. In agreement with this idea, a second experiment demonstrated that female-role hermaphrodites invariably mated only once with a single other shrimp.
Molecular Interaction of a Potent Nonpeptide Agonist with the Chemokine Receptor CCR8

Most nonpeptide antagonists for CC-chemokine receptors share a common pharmacophore with a centrally located, positively charged amine that interacts with the highly conserved glutamic acid (Glu) located in position 6 of transmembrane helix VII (VII:06). We present a novel CCR8 nonpeptide agonist, 8-[3-(2-methoxyphenoxy)benzyl]-1-phenethyl-1,3,8-triaza-spiro[4.5]decan-4-one (LMD-009), that also contains a centrally located, positively charged amine. LMD-009 selectively stimulated CCR8 among the 20 identified human chemokine receptors. It mediated chemotaxis, inositol phosphate accumulation, and calcium release with high potencies (EC50 from 11 to 87 nM) and with efficacies similar to that of the endogenous agonist CCL1, and it competed for 125I-CCL1 binding with an affinity of 66 nM. A series of 29 mutations targeting 25 amino acids broadly distributed in the minor and major ligand-binding pockets of CCR8 uncovered that the binding of LMD-009 and of four analogs [2-(1-(3-(2-methoxyphenoxy)benzyl)-4-hydroxypiperidin-4-yl)benzoic acid (LMD-584), N-ethyl-2-4-methoxybenzenesulfonamide (LMD-902), N-(1-(3-(2-methoxyphenoxy)benzyl)piperidin-4-yl)-2-phenyl-4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)butanamide (LMD-268), and N-(1-(3-(2-methoxyphenoxy)benzyl)piperidin-4-yl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-oxoquinoline-4-carboxamide (LMD-174)] included several key-residues for nonpeptide antagonists targeting CCR1, -2, and -5. It is noteworthy that a decrease in potency of nearly 1000-fold was observed for all five compounds for the Ala substitution of the anchor-point GluVII:06 (Glu286) and a gain-of-function of 19-fold was observed for LMD-009 (but not the four other analogs) for the Ala substitution of PheVI:16 (Phe254). These structural hallmarks were particularly important in the generation of a model of the molecular mechanism of action for LMD-009. In conclusion, we present the first molecular mapping of the interaction of a nonpeptide agonist with a chemokine receptor and show that the binding pocket of LMD-009 and of analogs overlaps considerably with the binding pockets of CC-chemokine receptor nonpeptide antagonists in general.
Estimation and elimination of DC component in digital relaying

This paper propose a new decaying DC component Estimation algorithm for digital relaying. Fault currents tend to include a DC decaying component. This component decreases the accuracy and speed of the protection relay operation. The proposed algorithm can estimate and eliminate the DC decaying component from fault current signals after one cycle from the fault instant. Also, it can be applied to a conventional discrete Fourier transform to calculate phasor quantities of fault currents in a digital protection relay. In the proposed algorithm, the DC decaying magnitude and time constant are estimated exactly by integrating fault currents during one cycle. The DC decaying component is eliminated by subtracting the DC value at each sampling instant. To verify the performance of the proposed algorithm, we performed a DC component estimation test and distance protection test using PSCAD/EMTDC. The results of the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation showed that the proposed algorithm can estimate DC components exactly from fault currents and can be applied to digital protection relays for phasor extraction.
Maintenance of cellular proliferation by adenovirus early region 1A in fibroblasts conditionally immortalized by using simian virus 40 large T antigen requires conserved region 1

Various mutants of adenovirus E1A were assayed for their ability to complement the growth defect at the nonpermissive temperature for the cell line tsa14 which was isolated by immortalizing rat embryo fibroblasts with the thermolabile large T antigen of tsA58. This cell line grows indefinitely at the permissive temperature but undergoes rapid growth arrest upon shift up to the nonpermissive temperature. Since this growth arrest can be overcome by introduction of wild-type simian virus 40 large T antigen, human papillomavirus 16 E7, and adenovirus E1A, the tsa14 cells provided an excellent system for defining regions of E1A necessary for complementation of the growth defect. We demonstrate that conserved region 1 (CR1) is the region of E1A required for complementation. While CR2 of E1A has been shown to be required for the immortalization of primary cells and is also necessary for the binding of the 105-kDa retinoblastoma protein, mutations within this region did not abrogate complementation of the growth defect. However, since both CR1 and CR2 have previously been shown to be absolutely required for immortalization of primary cells by adenovirus E1A, this evidence suggests that the tsa14 system assays for the maintenance of proliferation and that this requires CR1.
Translocalized IgA mediates neutralization and stimulates innate immunity inside infected cells

Significance In recent years, the important immune protective role of IgA, the most plentiful antibody type, has become increasingly clear. In this study, we show that IgA is carried inside cells during infection by a nonenveloped virus, adenovirus, which commonly causes respiratory disease. Once inside the cell, IgA is recognized by the newly identified cytosolic antibody receptor, tripartite motif-containing protein 21 (TRIM21), leading to destruction of virus by the proteasome and immune activation. We show that TRIM21 interacts directly with IgA to initiate these responses and explain how binding is accomplished. Our work identifies TRIM21 as the only antibody receptor to bind the three most prevalent circulatory antibodies, IgG, IgM, and IgA, and enlarges the role of IgA in immune protection. IgA is the most prevalent antibody type on mucosal surfaces and the second most prevalent antibody in circulation, yet its role in immune defense is not fully understood. Here we show that IgA is carried inside cells during virus infection, where it activates intracellular virus neutralization and innate immune signaling. Cytosolic IgA–virion complexes colocalize with the high-affinity antibody receptor tripartite motif-containing protein 21 (TRIM21) and are positive for lysine-48 ubiquitin chains. IgA neutralizes adenovirus infection in a TRIM21- and proteasome-dependent manner in both human and mouse cells. Translocated IgA also potently activates NF-κB signaling pathways in cells expressing TRIM21, whereas viral infection in the absence of antibody or TRIM21 is undetected. TRIM21 recognizes an epitope in IgG Fc that is not conserved in IgA; however, fluorescence anisotropy experiments demonstrate that direct binding to IgA is maintained. We use molecular modeling to show that TRIM21 forms a nonspecific hydrophobic seal around a β-loop structure that is present in IgG, IgM, and IgA, explaining how TRIM21 achieves such remarkable broad antibody specificity. The findings demonstrate that the antiviral protection afforded by IgA extends to the intracellular cytosolic environment.
Preferential Infection Shortens the Life Span of Human ImmunodeficiencyVirus-Specific CD4+ T Cells In Vivo

ABSTRACT CD4+ T-cell help is essential for effective immune responses to viruses. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, CD4+ T cells specific for HIV are infected by the virus at higher frequencies than other memory CD4+ T cells. Here, we demonstrate that HIV-specific CD4+ T cells are barely detectable in most infected individuals and that the corresponding CD4+ T cells exhibit an immature phenotype compared to both cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific CD4+ T cells and other memory CD4+ T cells. However, in two individuals, we observed a rare and diametrically opposed pattern in which HIV-specific CD4+ T-cell populations of large magnitude exhibited a terminally differentiated immunophenotype; these cells were not preferentially infected in vivo. Clonotypic analysis revealed that the HIV-specific CD4+ T cells from these individuals were cross-reactive with CMV. Thus, preferential infection can be circumvented in the presence of cross-reactive CD4+ T cells driven to maturity by coinfecting viral antigens, and this physical proximity rather than activation status per se is an important determinant of preferential infection based on antigen specificity. These data demonstrate that preferential infection reduces the life span of HIV-specific CD4+ T cells in vivo and thereby compromises the generation of effective immune responses to the virus itself; further, this central feature in the pathophysiology of HIV infection can be influenced by the cross-reactivity of responding CD4+ T cells.
Free and total serum PSA values in patients with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), prostate cancer and BPH. Is F/T PSA a potential probe for dormant and manifest cancer?

Free and total PSA serum concentrations were retrospectively measured in 106 subjects: 45 patients with intraepithelial prostatic neoplasia (PIN), 30 subjects with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and 31 subjects with untreated prostatic carcinoma. The (F/T) x 100 PSA value is recorded in subjects with the elevated total PSA level (> 4 ng/ml). PIN patients were divided into two groups: a low grade PIN (PIN 1) and high grade PIN (PIN II-III) patients. The mean (F/T) x 100 PSA value in low grade PIN patients was 27.9 +/- 16.2 (range 17.1-41.2, median 25.1) and has been numerically similar to the respective value in BPH subjects (29.1 +/- 13.2, 15.8-48.0, 27.7). These parameters differed markedly (P < 0.01) from the mean (F/T) x 100 PSA value in high grade PIN patients (16.9 +/- 9.0, range 9.9-24.9, median 16.5). The later values were in turn comparable (P > > 0.05) with the respective value measured in untreated prostate cancer patients (14.4 +/- 10.8, 6.6-21.4, 12.6). Hence, values derived from the measurement of free and total serum PSA level may distinguish low grade PIN that prevailingly remains latent disease from high grade PIN that is in most cases not only early prostatic carcinoma but that is often a precursor of an aggressive neoplasm. The published literature is incoherent regarding the influence of tumor spread on F/T PSA level. The cutoff point that divides BPH from cancer may depend on tumor stage. We have not investigated F/T PSA values related to different stages and grades of prostate cancer. The cutoff point of (F/T) x 100 PSA in our study that divides malignant from benign prostate, or latent from manifest cancer, was tentatively assigned as 18 with a specificity of 91% and selectivity of 69%. Our data are based on the application of the CIS assay that, according to the literature, gives higher F-PSA % compared to other respective kits.
Dental Variation among Asian Colobines (Nonhuman Primates): Phylogenetic Similarities or Functional Correspondence?

components) analyses. Results indicate that each tooth shows a significant close relationship with body size. Low negative and positive allometric scales for incisors and molars (M2s and M3s), respectively, are each considered to be related to special dental modifications for folivorous preference of colobines. Sexual dimorphism in canine eruption reported by Harvati (2000) is further considered to be associated with differences in growth trajectories (allometric pattern) between the 2 sexes. The relationships among the 6 genera of Asian colobines found greatly differ from those proposed in other studies. Four groups were detected: 1) Rhinopithecus, 2) Semnopithecus, 3) Trachypithecus, and 4) Nasalis, Pygathrix, and Presbytis. These separations were mainly determined by differences in molar structure. Molar sizes of the former 2 groups are larger than those of the latter 2 groups. This scenario is considered to be relevant to differences in their dietary selection and ecological niche adaptation, and to variations in latitude geographically. Snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus), especially those in China, are specialized colobines in many respects. The findings also imply that the geographical landscape and vegetation, being greatly shaped by tectonic modification and glaciation in Asia over the last 2 million years, have already forced Asian colobine monkeys to adapt to remarkably different diets and niches. The study of the colobines can thus provide an ideal model for interpreting the relationship between natural selection and adaptation. http://www.sinica. edu.tw/zool/zoolstud/42.1/93.pdf
Morphological and compositional shifts in an experimental bacterial community influenced by protists with contrasting feeding modes

In a two-stage continuous-flow system, we studied the impacts of different protozoan feeding modes on the morphology and taxonomic structure of mixed bacterial consortia, which were utilizing organic carbon released by a pure culture of a Rhodomonas sp. grown on inorganic medium in the first stage of the system. Two of three second stages operated in parallel were inoculated by a bacterivorous flagellate, Bodo saltans, and an algivorous ciliate, Urotricha furcata, respectively. The third vessel served as a control. In two experiments, where algal and bacterial populations grew at rates and densities typical for eutrophic waters, we compared community changes of bacteria, algae, and protozoa under quasi-steady-state conditions and during the transient stage after the protozoan inoculation. In situ hybridization with fluorescent oligonucleotide probes and cultivation-based approaches were used to tentatively analyze the bacterial community composition. Initially the cell size distribution and community structure of all cultivation vessels showed similar patterns, with a dominance of 1- to 2.5-(mu)m-long rods from the beta subdivision of the phylum Proteobacteria ((beta)-Proteobacteria). Inoculation with the ciliate increased bacterial growth in this substrate-controlled variant, seemingly via a recycling of nutrients and substrate released by grazing on algae, but without any detectable effect on the composition of bacterial assemblage. In contrast, an inoculation with the bacterivore, B. saltans, resulted in a decreased proportion of the (beta)-Proteobacteria. One part of the assemblage (<4% of total bacterial numbers), moreover, produced large grazing-resistant threadlike cells. As B. saltans ingested only cells of <3 (mu)m, this strategy yielded a refuge for (symbl)70% of total bacterial biomass from being grazed. Another consequence of the heavy predation in this variant was a shift to the numerical dominance of the (alpha)-Proteobacteria. The enhanced physiological status of the heavily grazed-upon segment of bacterial community resulted in a much higher proportion of CFU (mean, 88% of total bacterial counts) than with other variants, where CFU accounted for (symbl)30%. However, significant cultivation-dependent shifts of the bacterial community were observed toward (gamma)-Proteobacteria and members of the Cytophaga/Flavobacterium group, which demonstrated the rather poor agreement between cultivation-based approaches and oligonucleotide probing.
Placental abnormalities detected by ultrasonography in a case of confined placental mosaicism for trisomy 2 with severe fetal growth restriction

Clinical outcome of confined placental mosaicism (CPM) is varied, from normal pregnancy to intrauterine fetal death. It has been suggested that CPM for trisomy 2 is less likely to cause serious adverse effect on pregnancy. We hereby report a case of CPM for trisomy 2, which presented severe fetal growth restriction (FGR) and placental abnormalities. A 30‐year‐old woman was referred to our hospital at 17+2 weeks because of marked FGR. Ultrasonography demonstrated prominent placental hypertrophy with multiple focal defects without any fetal structural abnormalities. Amniocentesis at 18+3 weeks revealed normal karyotype. Fetal growth rate worsened with gestational weeks, reaching −7 standard deviation at 36 weeks. At 37 weeks, the fetal condition suddenly deteriorated, ending in a stillbirth of a 756‐g female baby. Postnatal cytogenetic analysis by array comparative genomic hybridization revealed trisomy 2 of the chorionic villi, and CPM for trisomy 2 was suggested as the cause of FGR and placental abnormalities.
A Novel Antioxidant‐Inhibited Dexamethasone‐Mediated and Caspase‐3‐Independent Muscle Cell Death

Abstract: Dexamethasone (Dex)‐mediated cell death is associated with repression of survival factors (AP‐1, c‐myc, NF‐κB). Dex suppressed the activity of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes leading to impaired viability and apoptotic cell death. These findings suggest that reactive oxygen species inhibit protein synthesis and amplify m‐calpain‐dependent proteolysis. The events that led to death of L6 muscle cells were most likely triggered by Dex‐mediated repression of antioxidative defenses on the genomic level.
An Image-Guided Robotic Surgery System for Spinal Fusion

The goal of this work is to develop and test a robot-assisted surgery system for spinal fusion. The system is composed of a robot, a surgical planning system, and a navigation system. It plays the role of assisting surgeons for inserting a pedicle screw in the spinal fusion procedure. Compared to conventional methods for spinal fusion, the proposed surgical procedure ensures minimum invasion and better accuracy by using robot and image information. The robot plays the role of positioning and guiding needles, drills, and other surgical instruments or conducts automatic boring and screwing. Pre-operative CT images intra-operative fluoroscopic images are integrated to provide the surgeon with information for surgical planning. Some experiments employing the developed robotic surgery system are conducted. The experimental results confirm that the system is not only able to guide the surgical tools by accurately pointing and orienting the specified location, but also successfully compensate the movement of the patient due to respiration.