Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of Mitochondrial Protein Import in Age-Related Neurodegenerative and Cardiovascular Diseases

Mitochondria play a critical role in providing energy, maintaining cellular metabolism, and regulating cell survival and death. To carry out these crucial functions, mitochondria employ more than 1500 proteins, distributed between two membranes and two aqueous compartments. An extensive network of dedicated proteins is engaged in importing and sorting these nuclear-encoded proteins into their designated mitochondrial compartments. Defects in this fundamental system are related to a variety of pathologies, particularly engaging the most energy-demanding tissues. In this review, we summarize the state-of-the-art knowledge about the mitochondrial protein import machinery and describe the known interrelation of its failure with age-related neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.
Loss Modeling of Large Hydrogenerators for Cost Estimation of Reactive Power Services and Identification of Optimal Operation

As a result of the worldwide energy transition, reactive power generation has started to become a more scarce resource in the power grid. Until recently, reactive power has been an auxiliary grid service that classical power generation facilities have provided without necessarily allocating any cost for this valuable service. In this paper, a new approach for predicting the additional costs of reactive power services delivered by large hydrogenerators is proposed. We derive the optimal reactive power (ORP) with minimal losses as a function of the active power level within the generator's capability diagram. This pathway can then be used to calculate additional losses from operational regimes deviating from the ORP. To back up the analysis, a dedicated example study was handpicked consisting of four real-world generators scaled in terms of power rating, i.e., <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$15 \,\mathrm{MVA}$</tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$47 \,\mathrm{MVA}$</tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$103 \,\mathrm{MVA}$</tex-math></inline-formula>, and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$160 \,\mathrm{MVA}$</tex-math></inline-formula>. The objective was to identify how the ORP scale from smaller to larger MVA-sized generators. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis of the machine characteristics is conducted. We find the ratio between the rotor and stator losses as the determining factor. Finally, we show how our framework could justify profit for reactive power services, which are projected to increase in the future.
Agri-Environmental Indicators: a Systemic Review to Assess New EU Green Deal Policies

Every intervention of planning, implementation, and monitoring of agricultural and agri-environmental policies requires assessment tools that should have the characteristics of relevance, completeness, interpretability, data quality, efficiency, and overlapping. Despite the extensive selection of bibliographies and numerous projects designed to develop agri-environmental indicators necessary for assessing the sustainability of new policies, it is difficult to have an integrated and updated set of indicators available, which can be an effective and practical application tool to assists policymakers, researchers, and actors in policy design, monitoring and impact assessment. Particularly, such need is pressing to face the new environmental challenges imposed by the upcoming European Union Green Deal on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post 2023. This study, therefore, aims to fill this gap by proposing a selection methodology and different pools of agri-environmental indicators differentiated based on a scale approach (crop-farm-district-region). Furthermore, we have attempted to validate our approach by quantifying selected indicators for a specific evaluation necessity, represented in this case by an assessment of environmental impact of land use change induced by CAP greening requirements in the Northern Italy context. Results of this validation show original crops’ impacts comparison, but also highlight great knowledge gaps in the available literature.
Input I-V and sampling time characteristics of the ACT device

The input I-V and sampling-time characteristics of the acoustic charge transport (ACT) device are presented for ohmic-contact charge injection and Schottky-gate-modulated charge injection. A computationally efficient analysis technique is developed to calculate the I-V and sampling-time data from two-dimensional potential and carrier-density distributions. Device physics and architecture are incorporated into the analysis through a numerical charge-injection model which is used to compute the potential and carrier-density distributions. Theoretical results are presented to demonstrate the charge injection characteristic of some typical device structures. The effects that the injection method, the epitaxial layer structure and the acoustic wave amplitude have on device performances are discussed. The physical basis of the analysis enables it to be used to study several other design parameters. Experimental measurements of a device I-V and input transconductance show good agreement with calculated data. This analysis technique provides a means of assessing the performance potential of new device designs. >
Experimental Study on Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Annular Plain Seals With Porous Materials

Static and dynamic characteristics are experimentally investigated for annular plain seals with porous materials applied to the seal surface by insertion into the middle of the seal. Experimental results show that annular plain seals with porous materials have a higher leakage flow rate, larger main stiffness coefficients, and smaller crosscoupled stiffness coefficients and main damping coefficients than conventional annular plain seals with solid surfaces. In the porous seals, an increase of approximately 30 percent in the leakage flow rate and reduction of the same amount in the main damping coefficients are obtained, whereas the main stiffness coefficients for the porous seals are four to six times as much as those for the solid seals due to the increase in the hydrostatic force induced by a function of the hydrostatic porous bearing. This suggests that the quantitative effects of the porous materials on the main stiffness coefficients are much more significant than the effects on the leakage flow rate and the other dynamic coefficients. The larger main stiffness coefficients for the porous seals yield larger radial reaction force for a small concentric whirling motion, which would contribute to rotor stability from the viewpoint of increasing speed limits due to a stiffer rotor support.
Fully-integrated transimpedance amplifier for photoplethysmographic signal processing with two-stage Miller capacitance multiplier

A two-stage Miller capacitance multiplier for compensation is proposed to implement an ultra-low frequency fully-integrated transimpedance amplifier (TIA). With the proposed multiplier, the TIA achieves a passband gain of 89 dB? , a DC current rejection ranging from 0.5 to 85 ? A, and a -3 dB highpass cutoff frequency of 0.5 to 9.5 Hz. This corresponds to an improvement of six times in DC current rejection range compared with previous techniques.
Exoskeletons and Exosuits Could Benefit from Mode-Switching Body Interfaces That Loosen/Tighten to Improve Thermal Comfort

Exoskeletons and exosuits (exos) are wearable devices that physically assist movement. User comfort is critically important for societal adoption of exos. Thermal comfort (a person’s satisfaction with their thermal environment) represents a key design challenge. Exos must physically attach/interface to the body to apply forces, and these interfaces inevitably trap some heat. It is envisioned that thermal comfort could be improved by designing mode-switching exo interfaces that temporarily loosen around a body segment when assistive forces are not being applied. To inform exo design, a case series study (N = 4) based on single-subject design principles was performed. Our objective was to assess individual responses to skin temperature and thermal comfort during physical activity with a Loose leg-sleeve interface compared with a Form-Fitting one, and immediately after a Form-Fitting sleeve switched to Loose. Skin under the Loose sleeve was 2–3 °C (4–6 °F) cooler after 25 min of physical activity, and two of four participants reported the Loose sleeve improved their thermal comfort. After completion of the physical activity, the Form-Fitting sleeve was loosened, causing a 2–4 °C (3–8 °F) drop in skin temperature underneath for all participants, and two participants to report slightly improved thermal comfort. These findings confirmed that an exo that can quickly loosen its interface when assistance is not required—and re-tighten when it is— has the potential to enhance thermal comfort for some individuals and environments. More broadly, this study demonstrates that mode-switching mechanisms in exos can do more than adjust physical assistance: they can also exploit thermodynamics and facilitate thermoregulation in a way that enhances comfort for exo users.
Unravelling the Interaction of Piperlongumine with the Nucleotide-Binding Domain of HSP70: A Spectroscopic and In Silico Study

Piperlongumine (PPL) is an alkaloid extracted from several pepper species that exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. Nevertheless, the molecular mode of action of PPL that confers such powerful pharmacological properties remains unknown. From this perspective, spectroscopic methods aided by computational modeling were employed to characterize the interaction between PPL and nucleotide-binding domain of heat shock protein 70 (NBD/HSP70), which is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy along with time-resolved fluorescence revealed the complex formation based on a static quenching mechanism. Van’t Hoff analyses showed that the binding of PPL toward NBD is driven by equivalent contributions of entropic and enthalpic factors. Furthermore, IDF and Scatchard methods applied to fluorescence intensities determined two cooperative binding sites with Kb of (6.3 ± 0.2) × 104 M−1. Circular dichroism determined the thermal stability of the NBD domain and showed that PPL caused minor changes in the protein secondary structure. Computational simulations elucidated the microenvironment of these interactions, showing that the binding sites are composed mainly of polar amino acids and the predominant interaction of PPL with NBD is Van der Waals in nature.
On the Hysteresis in Moisture Storage and Conductivity Measured by the Instantaneous Profile Method

The relative humidity (or the capillary pressure) and volumetric water content can be determined at specific locations inside a porous medium by means of the proposed instantaneous profile method (IPM). The measurements are carried out with temperature and relative humidity (RH) sensors as well as with time domain reflectometry probes during the whole duration of the experiment. Thus, the IPM allows a transient measurement of the moisture retention characteristic. In addition, from the spatial and temporal distributions of moisture content and RH one may calculate the moisture conductivity as a function of moisture content and RH as well. The adsorption and successive desorption experiments presented in this article have been performed on calcium silicate (a capillary active material). The results show a hysteretic behavior that appears to depend on the nature of the process. The moisture conductivity as function of RH shows a significant hystereses; however, the moisture conductivity in relation to the moisture content appears to be non-hysteretic.
Lens injection moulding condition diagnosis and form error analysis using cavity pressure signals based on response surface methodology

In this article, the condition diagnosis and form error prediction models for lens injection moulding process are developed based on a response surface method by using features extracted from in-process cavity pressure signals. In the lens injection moulding experiments, cavity pressure signals are captured by pressure sensors embedded in a lens mould, and form errors of manufactured lenses are measured afterwards. Then, three features such as filling point, maximum pressure and inflection point pressure are identified from the measured cavity pressure profile, and they are used to formulate the response surface functions for each injection moulding condition. In addition, the response surface functions for the lens form error with the input variables of the above-mentioned three features are also formulated. It is reported that the overall average accuracies for the lens injection moulding condition diagnosis and form error estimation are better than 97% and 80%, respectively, in the actual industrial site.
New Variants of the Cytochrome P450 2R1 (CYP2R1) Gene in Individuals with Severe Vitamin D-Activating Enzyme 25(OH)D Deficiency

Background: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble cholesterol derivative found in two forms, vitamin D2, and vitamin D3. Cytochrome P450 2R1 (CYP2R1) encoded by the CYP2R1 gene is the major hydroxylase that activates vitamin D by catalyzing the formation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). Methods: We collected 89 (100%) subjects, 46 of which (51.69%) had a documented severe deficiency of 25(OH)D (<10 ng/mL) and 43 (48.31%) in the control group with documented optimum levels of 25(OH)D (>30 ng/mL). We performed Sanger sequencing of three selected fragments of the CYP2R1 gene (Ch11: 14878000–14878499; Ch11: 14880058–14880883 and Ch11: 14885321–14886113) that affect the binding of substrates to this enzyme and analyzed the possible involvement of genetic variation in these regions with an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency in healthy Polish individuals. Results: Two substitutions were found within the three fragments. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that one of these (NC_000011.10: g.14878291G>A) may influence the structure and function of CYP2R1. Conclusions: Variant NC_000011. 10: g.14878291G>A may have a perturbing effect on heme binding in the active site of CYP2R1 and on the function of 25-hydroxylase and probably affects the concentration of 25(OH)D in vivo. We intend to perform functional verification in a larger patient population to confirm and extend these results.
Heavy metals in the polychaete Hediste diversicolor, from Lake Burullus, Egypt

Heavy metals are the most widespread and hazardous anthropogenic pollutants in the coastal marine waters (Martinez-Colon et al., 2009). They are usually concentrated in the sediment because of their rapid adsorption onto sediment particles (Dean, 2008), with harmful effects on biota (Mami et al., 2011). Lake Burullus is one of the Egyptian lakes on the Mediterranean coast, lying under anthropogenic stress of huge amounts of waste waters from different sources (El-Zeiny and El-Kafrawy, 2017). Although the lake was registered in UNESCO as a RAMSAR site (Kassas, 2002; Khalil and El-Dawy, 2002), earlier studies reported that the lake received increasing quantities of waste waters without any pre-treatment (Okbah, 2005; Radwan, 2005; Zaghloul et al., 2007), causing the occurrence of widely different levels of heavy metals in its water and sediment, particularly during the past two decades (ElNemr, 2003; Shaltout et al., 2005; Khalil et al., 2007; Chen et al., 2010; Hereher et al., 2010; Masoud et al., 2011; Eid et al., 2012; El-Baz, 2015; Nafea and Zyada, 2015; ElAmier et al., 2017). Polychaetes play a great role in the health of benthic communities through sediment bioturbation (e.g. Poirier et al., 2006; Watson et al., 2007; Durou et al., 2008; Rainbow et ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History: Received: Sept. 23, 2021 Accepted: Oct. 29, 2021 Online: Nov. 18, 2021 _______________
Duobinary technique for dispersion reduction in high capacity optical systems-modelling, experiment and field trial

The paper presents optical duobinary signalling as an alternative to the binary format for improved transmission performance in dispersion-limited systems and summarises results achieved from both experimental and theoretical investigations. The potential advantages of duobinary transmission for dispersion accommodation in high capacity systems are demonstrated in both laboratory experiments and installed optical fibres. Unrepeatered transmission at 10 Gbit/s without dispersion compensation was achieved with penalties of only 1.5 dB after 120 km and 2.5 dB after 138 km. Initial indications of the influence of self-phase modulation (SPM) and stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) on duobinary transmission are also presented. Two channel, 2/spl times/10 Gbit/s wavelength division multiplex (WDM) operation with mixed binary and duobinary transmission was demonstrated in a field trial. This is the world's first demonstration of using both duobinary and binary signallings at a total capacity of 20 Gbit/s over installed fibre. The investigations show that duobinary signalling should become an important transmission format for future wideband networks where system performance is primarily dispersion dominated.
Production control systems: Literature review, classification, and insights regarding practical application

This paper was a review of the literature regarding production control systems (PCS). A classification method based on four categories (order-controlled, stock level-controlled (SLC), flow-scheduled (FS), and hybrid systems) was proposed and used to classify the twenty different systems found in the review. A brief summary of each system was presented, showing the functioning logic and insights with regard to the practical application of each. Some insights arise from this study: (i) the majority of the PCS reviewed are designed for a repetitive, flow shop environment; (ii) the main field of application of all SLC systems is the flow shop, repetitive environment; (iii) in general, the FS systems are more adequate to a non-repetitive environment than are the SLC systems; (iv) hybrid systems constitute a promising field of research regarding the practical application of SCO in job shops and non-repetitive environments. Key words: Production control systems, production planning and control, literature review, classification, practical application.
Design of compact planar ultrawideband antenna with dual-notched bands using slotted square patch and pi-shaped conductor-backed plane

A planar antenna with ultrawideband (UWB) performance and dual band-notched characteristics is proposed. The main features of the antenna are the compact dimensions and omnidirectional radiation across the whole band of operation. The radiator of the antenna is a slotted square patch. The ground plane is located at the bottom layer, which also includes a Π-shaped conductor-backed plane used to widen the impedance bandwidth. Dual band-notched characteristics are achieved by an inverted T-shaped strip inside the slotted radiator and a pair of mirror inverted L-shaped slots at the two sides of the radiator. The measured results of the manufactured (12 × 16 mm) antenna on 1.6 mm FR4 substrate show that the antenna operates with voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) less than two over the frequency band from 2.5 to 10.8 GHz. That wideband is featured by the existence of two notched bands (3.23-4.3 and 5-6 GHz), where the VSWR is more than nine, aimed at suppressing any interference from IEEE802.16 WiMAX (3.3-3.6 GHz), C-band systems (3.7-4.2 GHz) and IEEE802.11a WLAN (5.15-5.825 GHz). The antenna has an omnidirectional radiation across the whole UWB as validated by the measured radiation pattern and gain.
Design Innovation through Constraint Modeling

In this paper we describe how constraint modeling can support design innovation. Furthermore, we lay out how constraints are employed in the construction and exploration of a model's design space. We place the approach within the context of design exploration using computational and conceptual representations of design. A review of the literature reveals that geometric, topologic, functional, and quantitative constraints are those most commonly used. For each constraint type, an example is presented drawing from several workshops and research conducted by the author. The examples range from product design, to structural design, to fabrication issues in freeform geometry. Based on the case studies, we describe how the different types of constraints can be used as design drivers and help in the exploration of solution spaces. In conclusion, we identify the need for bidirectional exercising of constraints as the next challenge in design exploration and discuss how it is relevant in particular for cross domain design.
Functional Characterization of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Associated Dynorphin A Mutant Peptides

Mutations in the prodynorphin gene (PDYN) are associated with the development of spinocerebellar ataxia type 23 (SCA23). Pathogenic missense mutations are localized predominantly in the PDYN region coding for the dynorphin A (DynA) neuropeptide and lead to persistently elevated mutant peptide levels with neurotoxic properties. The main DynA target in the central nervous system is the kappa opioid receptor (KOR), a member of the G-protein coupled receptor family, which can elicit signaling cascades mediated by G-protein dissociation as well as β-arrestin recruitment. To date, a thorough analysis of the functional profile for the pathogenic SCA23 DynA mutants at KOR is still missing. To elucidate the role of DynA mutants, we used a combination of assays to investigate the differential activation of G-protein subunits and β-arrestin. In addition, we applied molecular modelling techniques to provide a rationale for the underlying mechanism. Our results demonstrate that DynA mutations, associated with a severe ataxic phenotype, decrease potency of KOR activation, both for G-protein dissociation as well as β-arrestin recruitment. Molecular modelling suggests that this loss of function is due to disruption of critical interactions between DynA and the receptor. In conclusion, this study advances our understanding of KOR signal transduction upon DynA wild type or mutant peptide binding.
Risk-based framework for accommodating uncertainty in highway geometric design

The development of highway standard design models involves various assumptions regarding design inputs and the road environment. This paper suggests an improvement to the treatment of uncertainty in design inputs by replacing the current deterministic approach with a reliability-based framework. Reliability theory deals with the propagation of quantified variability in design inputs throughout the design process. In such a framework, each design output corresponds to a theoretical probability of noncompliance to design requirements. These probabilities can be used to assess and compare the a priori safety level associated with various design scenarios. This paper proposes that such a priori safety level of standard design outputs should be consistent and close to a prespecified target level. A set of methods is proposed to determine a target value for design safety. A general framework for calibrating standard design models is presented. To demonstrate the concept, the paper presents an application of the.
Tissue optimization strategies for high‐quality ex vivo diffusion imaging

Ex vivo diffusion imaging can be used to study healthy and pathological tissue microstructure in the rodent brain with high resolution, providing a link between in vivo MRI and ex vivo microscopy techniques. Major challenges for the successful acquisition of ex vivo diffusion imaging data however are changes in the relaxivity and diffusivity of brain tissue following perfusion fixation.