Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physical Mechanisms of Ca-ATPase Regulation in the Heart

The Ca-ATPase is an integral membrane enzyme which translocates two calcium ions from the cytoplasm of the cell to the sarcoplasmic reticulum lumen utilizing ATP breakdown as its energy source, in order to promote muscle relaxation. The focus of this research is the cardiac isoform of the Ca-ATPase which undergoes allosteric regulation by the phosphoprotein phospholamban (PLN). The Ca-ATPase is thought to be a target for nitrative stress and is affected by several chronic diseases of the heart. In the heart, age-based nitration of the Ca-ATPase inhibits Ca2+ transport activity but the physical mechanism by which nitration inhibits Ca-ATPase activity is not understood. Conversely, nitroxyl (HNO), a new candidate for drug therapy for congestive heart failure (CHF), improves overall cardiovascular function by increasing Ca-ATPase activity in the heart. However, the physical mechanism for this activation is unknown. Therefore, we have used enzyme kinetics, fluorescence spectroscopy, and EPR spectroscopy studies to determine the effects of ONOOand HNO on the Ca-ATPase and the physical regulation of the Ca-ATPase by PLN. Treatment of Ca-ATPase with a nitrating agent, ONOO-, inhibited CaATPase activity, and the [ONOO-]-dependent inhibition of the Ca-ATPase was more effective in the presence of PLN. ONOOdid not affect the [Ca2+]-
In search of non-coding driver mutations by deep sequencing of regulatory elements in colorectal cancer

Large-scale whole cancer-genome sequencing projects have led to the identification of a handful of cis-regulatory driver mutations in cancer genomes. However, recent studies have demonstrated that very large cancer cohorts will be required in order to identify low frequency non-coding drivers. To further this endeavour, in this study, we performed highdepth sequencing across 95 colorectal cancers and matched normal samples using a unique target capture sequencing (TCS) assay focusing on over 35 megabases of gene regulatory elements. We first assessed coverage and variant detection capability from our TCS data, and compared this with a sample that was additionally whole-genome sequenced (WGS). TCS enabled substantially deeper sequencing and thus we detected 51% more somatic single nucleotide variants (n = 2,457) and 144% more somatic insertions and deletions (n = 39) by TCS than WGS. Variants obtained from TCS data were suitable for somatic mutational signature detection, enabling us to define the signatures associated with germline deleterious variants in MSH6 and MUTYH in samples within our cohort. Finally, we surveyed regulatory mutations to find putative drivers by assessing variant recurrence and function, identifying some regulatory variants that may influence oncogenesis. Our study demonstrates TCS to be a sequencing-efficient alternative to traditional WGS, enabling improved coverage and variant detection when seeking to identify variants at specific loci among larger cohorts. Interestingly, we found no candidate variants that have a clear driver function, suggesting that regulatory drivers may be rare in a colorectal cancer cohort of this size. Author Summary In recent years, some cancer research focus has turned towards the role of somatic mutations in the 98% of the genome that is non-coding. To investigate such mutations, we performed deep sequencing of regulatory regions and a selection of coding genes across 95 colorectal cancer and matched-normal samples. To determine the ability of our targeted deep sequencing methodology to accurately detect variants, we compared our results with those from a sample that was additionally whole-genome sequenced. We found target capture sequencing to enable greater sequencing depth, allowing the detection of 51% and 144% more somatic single nucleotide and insertion/deletion mutations, respectively. Our study here demonstrates target capture sequencing to be a useful approach for researchers seeking to identify variants at specific loci among larger cohorts. Our results also enabled the generation of mutational signatures, implicating deleterious germline single nucleotide variants in coding exons of MSH6 and MUTYH in samples within our cohort. Finally, we surveyed regulatory elements in search of somatic cancer driver mutations. We identified some regulatory variants that may influence oncogenesis, but found no candidate variants with clear driver function. These findings suggest that regulatory driver mutations may be rare in a colorectal cancer cohort of this size.
Evaluation of dietary natural mineral materials as an antibiotic replacer on growth performance, non-specific immune responses and disease resistance in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

We evaluated the effects of some dietary natural mineral materials as an antibiotic replacer based on growth performance, non-specific immune responses and disease resistance in juvenile and subadult rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. First experiment, juvenile rainbow trout averaging 2.7 ± 0.02 g (mean ± SD) were fed one of the six experimental diets; a basal commercial diet as a control (CON), CON with oxytetracycline (OTC), with yellow loess (YL), with Macsumsuk® (MS), with Song-Gang® stone (SG) and with barley stone (BS) at 0.4% of each diet. At the end of 8-week feeding trial, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) of fish fed YL diet were significantly higher than those of fish fed CON diet. Non-specific immune responses such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), lysozyme (LYS) activity and oxidative radical production of fish fed YL diet were higher than those of fish fed CON diet. At the end of 15 days of challenge test with Aeromonas salmonicida, average cumulative survival rate of fish fed YL diet was significantly higher than that of fish fed BS and CON diets. However, there were no significant differences among fish fed YL, SG and OTC diets. Second experiment, subadult rainbow trout averaging 261.5 ± 3.5 g (mean ± SD) were fed one of the four experimental diets for 22 weeks: CON, and CON with OTC, YL or SG at 0.4% of each diet. At the end of feeding, growth performance of fish fed SG and YL diets was significantly higher than that of fish fed CON diet. Non-specific immune responses in terms of SOD, MPO, LYS and NBT of fish fed SG and YL diets were significantly higher than those of fish fed CON diet. However, there were no significant differences among the fish fed YL, SG and OTC diets. The results indicate that dietary yellow loess or Song-gang® stone at 0.4% of diet could replace oxytetracycline in juvenile and subadult rainbow trout.
Analysis of Orthodontic Prescriptions in Molars with Ideal Torque - a Laboratory Study

INTRODUCTION: There is a diverse range of orthodontic appliances available in clinical practice. However, there is also a lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of different prescriptions on the final positioning of these teeth following rectangular strand insertion into orthodontic molar tubes. This study aimed to determine whether the torque present in the tubes of pre-adjusted devices of different prescriptions would alter the ideal inclination of the first and second lower and upper molars. METHODS: This study utilized plaster models from 30 patients who presented with ideal torque. Four prescriptions with tubes of 0.22x0. 028" slot were used: MBT, Roth, Damon, and Edgewise. Tubes were glued on to plaster models on the vestibular side of teeth in the center of the clinical crown. In addition to this gluing position, the position of 1 millimeter below the center of crowns on lower models was evaluated. Gaps between tubes and steel rectangular wires of 0.019x0. 025"or 0.021x0. 025" thickness were measured, and the effective torque was calculated from these values. CONCLUSIONS: For 0.019x0. 025" wires, a higher number of optimal torque maintenances was observed, regardless of the prescription tested, compared to 0.021x0. 025" wires. The Roth prescription obtained the values closest to zero in the evaluation of the effective torque, indicating a small average torque change.
The Evolution of a Spacecraft‐Generated Lunar Exosphere

Understanding how spacecraft alter planetary environments can offer important insights into key physical processes, as well as being critical to planning mission operations and observations. In this context, it is important to recognize that almost any powered lunar landing will be an active volatile release experiment, due to the release of exhaust gases during descent. This presents both an opportunity to study the interaction of volatiles with the lunar surface and a need to predict how nonindigenous gases are dispersed, and how long they persist in the lunar environment. This work investigates these questions through numerical simulations of the transport of water vapor during a nominal lunar landing and for two lunar days afterward. Simulation results indicate that the water vapor component of spacecraft exhaust is globally redistributed, with a significant amount reaching permanently shadowed regions (cold traps) near the closest pole, where temperatures are sufficiently low that volatiles may remain stable over geological timescales. Exospheric evolution and surface deposition patterns are highly sensitive to desorption activation energy, providing a means to constrain this critical parameter through landed or orbital measurements during future missions. Contamination of cold traps by exhaust gases is likely to scale with exhaust mass and proximity of the landing site to the poles. Exhaust propagation is perhaps the most widespread and long‐lived impact of spacecraft operations on a nominally airless solar system body and should be a key consideration in mission planning and in interpreting measurements made by landed lunar missions, particularly at near‐polar regions.
Potential damage by Acromyrmex ant species in pine plantations in southern Brazil

Acromyrmex species primarily attack Pinus taeda plantations during the first months after planting, with more intense damage in the first 30 days. We evaluated potential damage by Acromyrmex crassispinus and Acromyrmex subterraneus in 30‐day‐old P. taeda plantations in southern Brazil by assessing the number of attacked plants and the distance reached by each colony, along with the losses in plant development resulting from different levels of defoliation. Both species were significant pests in newly established pine plantations. A single colony can attack a substantial number of seedlings (up to 453 seedlings). Colonies with larger nests attacked more plants and ranged farther; A. crassispinus reached 59 m and A. subterraneus 87 m. After 10 years, no significant losses in plant development were seen in seedlings defoliated less than 50% at 30 days after planting. But when defoliation of the young plants attained 75%, 100%, and 100%, including the cut of the apical meristem, volume losses reached 32%, 37%, and 43%, respectively. Leaf‐cutting ant controls should be carried out in plantations of P. taeda within 30 days of planting to avoid attacks. When seedlings are defoliated more than 75%, they should be replanted to avoid future losses in final wood volume.
Sequential Herbicide and Plant Growth Regulator Treatments on Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.)

Sequential applications of MSMA plus metribuzin with selected plant growth regulators interacted synergistically and increased injury of ‘Tifway’ bermudagrass 1 and 2 wk after treatment. However, the higher injury at 3 wk after treatment, from sequential MSMA plus metribuzin with flurprimidol plus mefluidide or paclobutrazol with mefluidide, was additive. The vegetative growth suppression of bermudagrass at 2 wk after treatment with 2,4-D plus mecoprop plus dicamba with flurprimidol was antagonistic. The higher growth suppression 2 wk after treatment for MSMA plus metribuzin and flurprimidol plus mefluidide was additive compared to flurprimidol with mefluidide alone.
Influence of Tytanit® and EM on biochemical, physiological, and qualitative parameters of common bean

The role of preparations supporting plant growth is mainly to reduce the harmful effects of various stress factors on plants and to ensure high yields of good quality. This experiment compared the effect of the mineral stimulator Tytanit® and the biological preparation Effective Microorganisms (EM) on the physiological and biochemical activity, as well as the yield of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The photosynthetic pigments, free proline and malondialdehyde were assayed and compared at three phenological phases of the bean: 15 BBCH, 24 BBCH, 65 BBCH. The yield parameters included the average number of pods per plant, as well as their fresh and dry mass. Additionally, the nutrient content in the pods was determined according to the atomic absorption spectrometry method. The study revealed a positive effect of both preparations on increasing the content of chlorophyll a, b, and the carotenoids in the bean leaves. Plants treated with Tytanit® were characterised by the highest content of malondialdehyde and proline, while EM maintained the aldehyde content on a similar level compared to the untreated plants and significantly reduced the proline content. Both preparations significantly decreased the Mn, Mg, P, and Ca content in the pods and did not have a substantial impact on the yield.
Revision of the Fire Ants of the Solenopsis saevissima Species-Group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract. The fire ants of the Solenopsis geminata species-group of Trager (1991) are revised based on the morphology of worker larvae and of adult forms of workers, males, and gynes (winged or dealated members of the queen caste). The amount of intraspecific variation occurring in the adult males and gynes was equivalent to that of workers, making the taxonomic information gained from these castes no better than information from the workers. A new species, S. metallica, is described from southern Brazil, based on adult workers, adult gynes, males, and worker larvae. The following classification changes are made: S. virulens is placed in the S. virulens species-group; S. tridens and S. substituta are placed in the S. tridens species-group; S. metallica new species, S. daguerrei, S. electra, S. hostilis, S. interrupta, S. invicta, S. macdonaghi, S. megergates, S. pusillignis, S. pythia, S. quinquecuspis, S. richteri, S. saevissima, and S. weyrauchi are placed in the S. saevissima species-group; and S. geminata, S. xyloni, S. amblychila, S. aurea, S. gayi, and S. bruesi are left in the S. geminata species-group. The older classification, which designated complexes and subcomplexes, is abandoned. For the S. saevissima species-group, adults of males and gynes, as well as worker larvae, are described and diagnosed for each species. Diagnoses and keys (dichotomous and tabular) are provided for adult workers, the most commonly collected material, and distributions of the species are summarized.
How Empowering Leadership and a Cooperative Climate Influence Employees’ Voice Behavior and Knowledge Sharing in the Hotel Industry

ABSTRACT Front-line employees usually have the longest contact with customers and can directly identify and solve their problems immediately. Therefore, employees’ voice behavior and knowledge sharing are important resources for hotel organizational efficiency and improvement. This study examined the effects of empowering leadership and a cooperative climate on employees’ voice behavior and knowledge sharing through their job autonomy, using data from 327 five-star hotel employees in Taiwan. The results suggest that an empowering leadership style and a cooperative climate in hotels could improve employee job autonomy, enabling them to voice their opinion to managers and share knowledge with their colleagues.
Will Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Create Mixed-Income Communities? Evidence From London, UK

ABSTRACT Mandatory inclusionary housing, which requires market-rate housing developments to include a proportion of affordable housing units, has the potential to deliver affordable housing in more affluent neighborhoods and create mixed-income communities. This study evaluates this potential effect in London, United Kingdom, where mandatory inclusionary housing has been implemented in all local authorities since the early 2000s. Comparing the spatial concentration and average neighborhood characteristics of affordable housing delivered under inclusionary housing and those created via conventional means (i.e., in the public or nonprofit sector), we find that a higher percentage of inclusionary affordable units are concentrated in a small number of neighborhoods, and both types of affordable units are more likely to be placed in disadvantaged neighborhoods than market-rate units are. We explore the ways in which local implementation of inclusionary housing could have allowed developers to shift some of the inclusionary affordable housing toward disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Phase II Study of Combination Obinutuzumab, Ibrutinib, and Venetoclax in Treatment-Naïve and Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

PURPOSE The development of highly effective targeted agents for chronic lymphocytic leukemia offers the potential for fixed-duration combinations that achieve deep remissions without cytotoxic chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS This phase II study tested a combination regimen of obinutuzumab, ibrutinib, and venetoclax for a total of 14 cycles in both patients with treatment-naïve (n = 25) and relapsed or refractory (n = 25) chronic lymphocytic leukemia to determine the response to therapy and safety. RESULTS The primary end point was the rate of complete remission with undetectable minimal residual disease by flow cytometry in both the blood and bone marrow 2 months after completion of treatment, which was 28% in both groups. The overall response rate at that time was 84% in treatment-naïve patients and 88% in relapsed or refractory patients. At that time, 67% of treatment-naïve patients and 50% of relapsed or refractory patients had undetectable minimal residual disease in both the blood and marrow. At a median follow-up of 24.2 months in treatment-naïve patients and 21.5 months in relapsed or refractory patients, the median progression-free and overall survival times were not yet reached, with only 1 patient experiencing progression and 1 death. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the most frequent adverse events, followed by hypertension. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was experienced by 66% of patients, with more events in the relapsed or refractory cohort. There was only 1 episode of neutropenic fever. A favorable impact on both perceived and objective cognitive performance during treatment was observed. CONCLUSION The combination regimen of obinutuzumab, ibrutinib, and venetoclax offers time-limited treatment that results in deep remissions and is now being studied in phase III cooperative group trials.
An assessment of the attributes of Staccato sweet cherries at harvest and upon storage in relation to orchard growing factors

Abstract: This work presents new data on the effects of orchard growing factors on storage quality of Staccato sweet cherries grown in the southern Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada. Quality attributes, respiration rates, and the mineral contents of Staccato sweet cherries were analyzed. Orchard growing factors such as pruning practices, growing temperature, and relative humidity varied by orchard throughout the region, and consequently, the mineral contents, quality attributes, and respiration rates of the Staccato sweet cherries also varied. Principal components analysis revealed relationships among orchard growing factors, cherry fruit mineral content, and fruit quality data. The content of Ca, Mg, N, P, and K in cherry fruit was correlated with quality attributes such as pitting, pebbling, soluble solids, titratable acidity, dry matter, firmness, and stem pull force. Orchard temperatures and relative humidity also influenced flavour quality attributes and appearance. Orchard management practices resulting in large leaf sizes were generally associated with good flavour quality and appearance. This work provides new data to support improved understanding how cherry quality is affected by orchard growing factors in an integrated analysis.
Evaluation of vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor. L) genotypes for yield and yield attributing traits

A set of 27 genotypes comprising of 25 germplasm lines and two checks of amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor. L) were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with three replications at College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad for nineteen foliage yield and its attributes so as to identify the horticulturally superior genotypes for leaf production and quality. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the 19 characters. On the basis of mean performance of the genotypes, five genotypes viz., IC-522214, IC-536718, IC-536712, IC-536699 and IC-536728 have been identified as promising genotypes with reference to the characters viz., leaf length, leaf width, leaf area index, leaf weight per plant, total foliage yield per plant, total chlorophyll content, protein content, ascorbic acid, moisture content, iron content and folic acid. The present study reveals that the genotypes identified should be considered as the promising genotypes and can be used as parental source in breeding programmes for multi-trait improvement.
In vitro Assessment of Antiviral Activity of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) belongs to the retrovirus family with a genome consisting of a diploid positive single-stranded RNA. AIDS is a chronic immune deficiency illness manifested by a severe decrease in cell-mediated immunity [1-4]. The main target of HIV virions is CD4+ T lymphocytes which results in their drastic reduction during HIV infection and finally a chronic immune deficiency leading to death from opportunistic infections and tumors. It is estimated that 34 million people are living with HIV worldwide; this poses an enormous health-care challenge for many countries [5]. The process of HIV infection has three stages, namely acute HIV infection, chronic HIV infection, and AIDS [6].
MIDAS: A New Integrated Flood Early Warning System for the Miño River

Early warning systems have become an essential tool to mitigate the impact of river floods, whose frequency and magnitude have increased during the last few decades as a consequence of climate change. In this context, the Mino River Flood Alert System (MIDAS) early warning system has been developed for the Mino River (Galicia, NW Spain), whose flood events have historically caused severe damage in urban areas and are expected to increase in intensity in the next decades. MIDAS is integrated by a hydrologic (HEC-HMS) and a hydraulic (Iber+) model using precipitation forecast as input data. The system runs automatically and is governed by a set of Python scripts. When any hazard is detected, an alert is issued by the system, including detailed hazards maps, to help decision makers to take precise and effective mitigation measures. Statistical analysis supports the accuracy of hydrologic and hydraulic modules implemented to forecast river flow and flooded critical areas during the analyzed period of time, including some of the most extreme events registered in the Mino River. In fact, MIDAS has proven to be capable of predicting most of the alert situations occurred during the study period, showing its capability to anticipate risk situations.