Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrastructure of Melanopsin-Expressing Retinal Ganglion Cell Circuitry in the Retina and Brain Regions that Mediate Light-Driven Behavior

Author(s): Liu, Yu Hsin | Advisor(s): Panda, Satchidananda; Ellisman, Mark | Abstract: Melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells (mRGC) are intrinsically photosensitive and combine their melanopsin-based photoresponses with rod and cone signals to convey light information to a subset of retinal brain targets. mRGC axons to non-image forming (NIF) visual centers are essential for the proper functioning of processes like circadian photoentrainment and pupillary light reflex. Surprisingly, mRGCs also send axons to image-forming regions of the brain. It is unknown how mRGCs mediate such diverse functions. Classically, a cell’s morphology and location in a biological system is a direct reflection of its synaptic connections and, by definition, their function. mRGCs can be divided into five subtypes (M1-M5) based on morphology and dendritic stratification in the inner plexiform layer. In the classical sense, since M1s send axons to only a subset of mRGC-target regions and are the only subtype that monostratify in the OFF-sublamina, M1s likely serve a distinct function from other subtypes. However, M1s, like all mRGCs, exhibit an ON-response. This reveals a hole in what we understand about intraretinal connectivity and attenuates the weight that should be afforded to stratification in determining function. While the other mRGC subtypes have distinct morphology and branching patterns, it is unknown whether they serve specific functions. Thus, in order to explore the structure-function relationship of mRGC subtypes, we must consider connectivity. Unfortunately, the variable expression of melanopsin protein between subtypes and across the architecture of a single mRGC and the lack of unique markers for up- and downstream interactors has precluded rigorous study of mRGC connectivity in the retina and central targets.We use a correlated light and electron microscopy label and serial blockface scanning electron microscopy to explore the architecture and synaptic partners of mRGCs in an attempt to better understand the connectivity of mRGC subtypes. We show significant differences in the ultrastructure of mRGC axonal terminals in mRGC-recipient brain regions, stratification-specific differences in mRGC dendrites, and catalog the intraretinal connections specific to mRGC subtypes.
Seismic Behaviour of Buildings with Transfer Structures in Low-to- Moderate Seismicity Regions

A literature review has bee n conducted aim ed at improving the general understanding of the seismic response of concrete buildings with transfer structures in low-to-moderate seismicity regions. This paper summarizes and discusses the existing codified requirements for transfer structure design under seismic conditions. Based on the previous shaking table test results and numerical findings, the seismic effects on the inelastic behaviours of transfer structures are investigated. The mechanisms for the formation of a soft storey below transfer floors, the abrupt change in inter-storey drift near transfer storeys and shear concentration due to local deformation of transfer structures are developed. Design principles have been established for control- ling soft-storey type failure and minimizing shear concentration in exterior walls supported by transfer struc- tures. The influence of the vertical positioning of transfer floors on the seismic response of buildings has also been reviewed.
Evaluation of Edible Quality of Sorghum Based on Principal Component Analysis

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is one of the most important cereals in the Northeast China. The physicochemical, pasting, texture, and cooking properties of 21 sorghum varieties were determined, which were mainly cultivated in Northeast China. Then, the evaluation of edible quality of sorghum was based on principal component analysis and fitted with the score of sensory evaluation. Five principal components (PCs) with a cumulative contribution rate of 86.19% could be picked out to describe the taste, pasting, flavor, cooking, and variety of sorghum, respectively. And a comprehensive equation of sorghum edible quality in Northeast China was constructed which was Z = 0.45F1 + 0.25F2 + 0.12F3 + 0.10F4 + 0.08F5. The edible quality of No. 14 and No. 15 was the best. The sensory evaluation was used to verify the above equation with the fitting coefficient of 0.81, which indicated that the equation could be more accurate to evaluate the edible quality of sorghum in Northeast China.
Systemic muscle wasting and coordinated tumour response drive tumourigenesis

Cancer cells demand excess nutrients to support their proliferation, but how tumours exploit extracellular amino acids during systemic metabolic perturbations remain incompletely understood. Here, we use a Drosophila model of high-sugar diet (HSD)-enhanced tumourigenesis to uncover a systemic host-tumour metabolic circuit that supports tumour growth. We demonstrate coordinate induction of systemic muscle wasting with tumour-autonomous Yorkie-mediated SLC36-family amino acid transporter expression as a proline-scavenging programme to drive tumourigenesis. We identify Indole-3-propionic acid as an optimal amino acid derivative to rationally target the proline-dependency of tumour growth. Insights from this whole-animal Drosophila model provide a powerful approach towards the identification and therapeutic exploitation of the amino acid vulnerabilities of tumourigenesis in the context of a perturbed systemic metabolic network. Cancer is a systemic disease that associates with host metabolic changes. Here, the authors show using Drosophila, that tumours exploit extracellular proline in response to muscle wasting, indicating that tumours induce muscle wasting as a nutrient-scavenging programme to drive tumourigenesis.
Molecular dynamic simulations to investigate the structural impact of known drug resistance mutations on HIV-1C Integrase-Dolutegravir binding

Resistance associated mutations (RAMs) threaten the long-term success of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) outcomes for HIV-1 treatment. HIV-1 Integrase (IN) strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) have proven to be a viable option for highly specific HIV-1 therapy. The INSTI, Dolutegravir is recommended by the World Health Organization for use as first-line cART. This study aims to understand how RAMs affect the stability of IN, as well as the binding of the drug Dolutegravir to the catalytic pocket of the protein. Molecular modelling of HIV-1C IN was performed using the SWISS-MODEL webserver; with quality assessment performed using internal methods and external software tools. The site directed mutator webserver was used to predict destabilizing and/or stabilizing effects of known RAMs while FoldX confirmed any changes in protein energy upon introduction of mutation. Interaction analysis between neighbouring residues was done using PyMOL. Three randomly selected mutations were chosen for molecular dynamic simulation studies using Gromacs. Trajectory analysis included Root mean square deviation and fluctuation, Radius of gyration, Principal component analysis and Interaction analysis between Dolutegravir and protein residues. The structural quality assessment indicated high reliability of the HIV-1C IN tetrameric structure, with more than 90% confidence in modelled regions. Change in free energy for the G140S mutant indicated a stabilizing effect and simulation analysis showed it to affect structural stability and flexibility of the protein structure. This was further supported by the drug being expelled from the G140S mutant active site, as indicated by interaction analysis. Our findings suggest the G140S mutant has a strong effect on the HIV-1C IN protein structure and Dolutegravir binding and should be validated using laboratory-based experiments. This approach can be applied to determine the effect of other mutations/variants on HIV-1C integrase drug binding.
The influence of different variables on adverse effect of dental local anesthesia in Kirkuk City

Background: Local anesthetic injections are the most common drugs used during dental treatment to inhibit pain sensation. Although these drugs are generally safe; though side effects occurs. Many side effects of anesthesia and anxiety associated dental treatment have been reported, yet their incidence and factors that modulate them were not studies extensively. Objectives: The objectives of the study was to: 1- Determine the incidence rate of dental local anesthetic complications. 2- Analyze the effect of different risk factors on the incidence of local anesthetic adverse effects, anxiety and nicotine withdrawal syndrome in smoker and non-smokers. Methodology: Three hundred fifty five dental patients enrolled in this Cross-Sectional study, those patients attended a private clinic for different dental complaints. The patients were given -lidocaine –hamein 2% with 1:80,000 epinephrine- by either infiltration or inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) injection techniques to induce anesthesia, then underwent different dental procedures. Questionnaire was constructed to obtain patients information after formal consent. We focused on the sixteen well known signs and symptoms of local anesthesia side effect. The anxiety evaluated by using10-cm anxiety visual analog scale (VAS-A). Additionally, we searched for other dental complications and for nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Statistical Analysis: Data analyzed by using SigmaPlot (11.0) program. One sample t-test, ANOVA Test and a linear regression analysis were used. The p value of Results: The commonest side effect was Post-operative sensory paralysis (235/355, ~66%) followed by palpitation (215/355, ~60%). Most patients had more than one side effect concomitantly. Gender, injection technique, dental procedure, age, BMI and smoking were significantly associated with a higher incidence of adverse reactions. The incidence rate of Post-operative sensory paralysis (66.2%) followed by palpitation (60.5%) and pallor (15.5%). Each of Tremor, confusion and hyperventilation were identified in less than 5% of the study population. The incidence rate of anxiety was high (340/355, ~95%). The level of anxiety was significantly affected by different dental procedure, smoking, age and BMI. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly increased after local anesthetic injections with p Conclusions: The present study reports high incidence rate of local anesthetic adverse effects and anxiety which is associated with the some risk factors controlling these factors might minimize the side effects of the anesthesia.
Loss of cerebellar function selectively affects intrinsic rhythmicity of eupneic breathing

Respiration is controlled by central pattern generating circuits in the brain stem, whose activity can be modulated by inputs from other brain areas to adapt respiration to autonomic and behavioral demands. The cerebellum is known to be part of the neuronal circuitry activated during respiratory challenges, such as hunger for air, but has not been found to be involved in the control of unobstructed breathing at rest (eupnea). Here we applied a measure of intrinsic rhythmicity, the CV2, which evaluates the similarity of subsequent intervals and is thus sensitive to changes in rhythmicity at the temporal resolution of individual respiratory intervals. The variability of intrinsic respiratory rhythmicity was reduced in a mouse model of cerebellar ataxia compared to their healthy littermates. Irrespective of that difference, the average respiratory rate and the average coefficient of variation (CV) were comparable between healthy and ataxic mice. We argue that these findings are consistent with a proposed role of the cerebellum in the coordination of respiration with other rhythmic orofacial movements, such as fluid licking and swallowing.
Research of Vehicle Emission Test Modal Measurement and Analysis Method

Modal measurement and analysis method of vehicle emission test were discussed.Theory and calculation method of continuous dilution sampling experiment were presented.Emission test system and experiment process were designed.Experiment result of continuous dilution sampling was analyzed according to mode and cycle.Field application showed modal measurement and analysis method can provide detailed information for engine control development and reduction of vehicle pollutants emission.
Nanoscale Ordering and Depolymerization of Calcium Silicate Hydrates in the Presence of Alkalis

Increasing cement production and its substantial contribution to anthropogenic CO2 emissions (∼5–8%) have led to the pursuit of alternative, sustainable cements. These sustainable cements often contain non-negligible amounts of alkalis (Na or K) which significantly influence the resulting material’s performance. However, the precise mechanism(s) by which the atomic structure and thermodynamic stability of the primary binder phase is altered remains unknown. Here, we have synthesized 45 pure sodium-substituted calcium-(alumino-)silicate-hydrate (C-(N)-(A)-S-H) gels using a wide range of alkali concentrations (0.1–5 M). We report that the addition of higher levels of alkalis during synthesis of the gels results in a systematic reduction in basal spacing, mean silicate chain lengths, and, most importantly, degree of silicate polymerization. These changes to the gel’s extent of polymerization, confirmed by X-ray pair distribution function and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, may have implication.
The Use of High-Alloyed EAF Slag for the Neutralization of On-Site Produced Acidic Wastewater: The First Step Towards a Zero-Waste Stainless-Steel Production Process

Recycling of steelmaking slags has well-established applications, such as their use in cement, asphalt, or fertilizer industries. Although in some cases, such as the electric arc furnace (EAF) high-alloyed stainless-steel production, the slag’s high metal content prevents its use in such applications. This forces companies to accumulate it as waste. Using concepts such dematerialization, waste management, industrial symbiosis, and circular economy, the article drafts a conceptual framework on the best route to solving the landfilling issue, aiming at a zero-waste process re-design. An experimental part follows, with an investigation of the use of landfill slag as a substitute of limestone for the neutralization of acidic wastewater, produced by the rinsing of steel after the pickling process. Neutralization of acidic wastewater with both lime and slag samples was performed with two different methods. Two out of four slag samples tested proved their possible use, reaching desired pH values compared to lime neutralizations. Moreover, the clean waters resulting from the neutralizations with the use of both lime and slag were tested. In terms of hazardous element concentrations, neutralization with slag yielded similar results to lime. The results of these trials show that slag is a potential substitute of lime for the neutralization of acidic wastewater.
EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF MICROELEMENTS AND POTASSIUM LEVELS ON GROWTH, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND QUALITY CHARACTERS OF SUGAR BEET (Beta vulgaris L.) UNDER NEWLY RECLAIMED SOILS

Two field experiments were conducted during two successive seasons 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 at Nubaria area, Alexandria Governorate, in order to study the effect of foliar application of B, Fe, Zn and Mn at the concentrations of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 L /400 L water/fed and potassium fertilizer levels (24, 36 and 48 kg K2O/fed.) on yield and physiological characters of sugar beet plant (Beta vulgaris L.) under newly reclaimed soils. A split plot design with four replications was used. Results revealed that foliar application of B, Fe, Zn and Mn at the concentration of 1.5 l/fed recorded highest root diameter and root fresh weight/plant, as well as, sucrose%, root and sugar yields/fed. , while, foliar application of B, Fe, Zn and Mn at the concentration of at 2 l/fed gave tallest root and percentage of root impurities (amino-N, Na and K). Fertilization of potassium at rate of 48 kg K2O/fed gave highest values of root length, root diameter, the percentage of -N, Na, K as well as root and sugar yields/fed in both seasons. On the contrary, a gradual reduction in sucrose% had been detected with the increase in potassium level over 36 kg K2O/fed, while application of potassium at rate of 24 kg K2O/fed recorded the lowest values in all characters in both seasons. The interaction between foliar spraying of B, Fe, Zn and Mn at the concentration of 1.5 l/fed and potassium fertilizer at rate of 48 kg K2O /fed significantly affected root and sugar yields/fed and sucrose% in both seasons. It could be summarized that, application of potassium at rate of 48 kg K2O /fed and foliar spraying of B, Fe, Zn and Mn at the concentration of 1.5 l/fed significantly k,affected root diameter and root fresh weight, root and sugar yields/fed. as well as sucrose%
The potential and economic viability of wind farms in Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT Wind energy potential in Zimbabwe so as to curb for the energy deficit is assessed in this study. The frequency of load shedding in Zimbabwe has increased; this is due to insufficient energy generation and rising energy demand. Wind energy is intermittent and these fluctuations might lead to an unreliable system so the wind turbines are going to be grid-connected, in the event of a deficit from the wind system, the grid will supply. Conversion of wind resources in 28 different locations scattered all over Zimbabwe into electrical energy is the main objective of this study. The study shows the energy production cost ranges from US$77.23/MWh to US$129.46/MWh. This kind of range will allow wind energy to be used in the future energy plans of Zimbabwe. Integration of renewable energy resources to increase the generation capacity does not only increase the energy production but also ensures a cleaner energy generation mix which is environmentally friendly.
Dual-Mode Model Predictive Control of an Omnidirectional Wheeled Inverted Pendulum

This article describes the position and heading control of a novel form of omnidirectional wheeled inverted pendulum platform known as a collinear Mecanum drive. This concept uses four collinear Mecanum wheels to balance in a similar manner to a typical two-wheeled inverted pendulum while also being able to simultaneously translate directly along its balance axis. Control is performed using a constrained time-optimal infinite horizon model predictive controller, with feasibility maintained across the full reference input set. Explored in this article is the derivation of the system dynamics model and controller, a systematic approach to selection of controller parameters and analysis of their effect on control performance and complexity, and an evaluation of the controller's efficacy in both simulation and on a real-world experimental prototype for simple and complex trajectories.
BIOSORPTION OF METANIL YELLOW DYE FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS BY THE ENTIRE WATER HYACINTH PLANT (Eichhornia crassipes) AND ITS VEGETATIVE ORGANS

This study explored the kinetics of metanil yellow (MY) dye biosorption onto the water hyacinth plant (Eichhornia crassipes) and its vegetative organs (leaves, roots, and stems). The water hyacinth s leaves exhibited the highest capacity for and initial volumetric rate of MY biosorption, followed by the entire plant, roots, and stems. Modeling the kinetics for MY biosorption onto the entire plant and vegetative organs showed that the best agreement of experimental data was achieved with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, suggesting that the rate-determining step in the overall reaction of MY biosorption onto the biosorbents might be chemisorption. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy studies suggest that the amide I and II functional groups, which are present in the biosorbent proteins, participated in the biosorption of MY from aqueous solutions. A linear dependence of MY biosorption capacity at equilibrium on total protein content was observed, confirming that MY molecules bind to biosorbent proteins. Scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopy studies corroborated the presence of MY on the biosorbents surface.
Motion Primitives Representation, Extraction and Connection for Automated Vehicle Motion Planning Applications

Developing an autonomous driving system which can generate human-like actions requires the ability to utilize the basic driving skills learned from the driving data. The efficiency of the algorithm can be significantly improved if we can decompose the complex driving tasks into motion primitives (MPs) which represent the elementary composition of driving skills. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to represent MPs, extract MPs from unlabeled driving data, and then connect the learned MPs in the established library. By applying a probabilistic inference based on an Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm and initial segmentation, the extraction method segments the observed trajectories while learning a set of MPs represented by the modified dynamic movement primitives (DMPs). Moreover, the proposed connection algorithm transforms the connection problem into the re-representation problem of the MP sequence. This paper demonstrates that the modified DMP method can not only represent the driver’s trajectory with acceptable accuracy but also have strong generalization ability. We also present how to utilize the mutual dependency between the representation and extraction to achieve MP segmentation and MP library establishment. Besides, this paper shows how the proposed connection algorithm correlates the independent MPs in the sequence to ensure a smooth transition and evaluates the tracking accuracy. The results show that the proposed method realizes the extraction of MPs and the re-generation of trajectory by making use of the interdependence relationship that is often neglected between the representation of a single MP, extraction of different types of MP and combination of multiple MPs.
Learning Socially Assistive Robot Behaviors for Personalized Human-Robot Interaction

Caregivers play a crucial role in assisting seniors having difficulty accomplishing activities of daily living (ADLs) due to physical or cognitive limitations. A global decline in the caregiver-to-senior ratio is making it increasingly more difficult to care for these seniors. Socially assistive robots are promising alternative technologies for supporting seniors in living independently. However, limited research has gone into developing a learning-based method for designing assistive robot behaviors. This thesis aims to: (1) identify the key features necessary for assistive robots supporting seniors with cognitive impairments in completing ADLs; and (2) develop a novel behavior-learning architecture to teach robots how to display assistive behaviors using expert demonstrations and personalize these learned behaviors to the seniorâ s cognition using reinforcement learning to increase task performance. Experiments with a socially assistive robot validated the robotâ s ability to learn and personalize new behaviors to a userâ s cognition from expert demonstration using the proposed architecture. %%%%M.A.S.