Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coilin and Cajal bodies

ABSTRACT The nucleus of higher eukaryotes contains a number of structures that concentrate specific biomolecules and play distinct roles in nuclear metabolism. In recent years, the molecular mechanisms controlling their formation have been intensively studied. In this brief review, I focus on coilin and Cajal bodies. Coilin is a key scaffolding protein of Cajal bodies that is evolutionarily conserved in metazoans. Cajal bodies are thought to be one of the archetypal nuclear structures involved in the metabolism of several short non-coding nuclear RNAs. Yet surprisingly little is known about the structure and function of coilin, and a comprehensive model to explain the origin of Cajal bodies is also lacking. Here, I summarize recent results on Cajal bodies and coilin and discuss them in the context of the last three decades of research in this field.
ABCC2 brush‐border expression predicts outcome in papillary renal cell carcinoma: a multi‐institutional study of 254 cases

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) histologic subtyping is no longer recommended in the 2022 WHO classification. Currently, WHO/ISUP nucleolar grade is the only accepted prognostic histologic parameter for PRCC. ABCC2, a renal drug transporter, has been shown to significantly predict outcomes in PRCC. In this study we evaluated the prognostic significance of ABCC2 IHC staining patterns in a large, multi‐institutional PRCC cohort and assessed the association of these patterns with ABCC2 mRNA expression.
Evolution characteristics of precipitation phase in winter and its application in expressway weather forecast

The variation of surface meteorological conditions caused by different precipitation phases has multiple effects on the safe operation of expressways. In this study, based on the dual-polarimetric Doppler radar data and other meteorological data the rain and snow process in Jiang Province of China in January, 2018 is taken as an example. The data of dual polarization Doppler radar and various meteorological data are applied to the diagnostic analysis of physical quantities. Then, the phase distribution characteristics of polarization parameters and non-polarization parameters of radar echo under different phases of precipitation are studied. Based on the variation relationship between radar echo and pavement meteorological conditions, the application research of road weather forecast has been carried out. The results show that in the whole rain and snow process the stratus exists in low levels, which can wet-warm the atmosphere and provide favorable conditions for the continuous snowfall. The radar echo can accurately reflect the fine vertical structure of the rain-producing cloud body at each stage, which contributes to the precise forecast of precipitation phase. In order to respond to the variation of surface meteorological conditions, the pavement slipperiness index is constructed, and the management schemes of variable speed limit under different traffic flowrates are designed.
Study on the influence of speed limit sign on driver’s speed choice

Speed limit sign is an important measure to control driver’s driving speed and improve road traffic safety. It will have a series of impacts on the driver’s behavior, but the mechanism of its impact on the driver’s speed choice behavior is still unclear. In this study, three road scenes under different speed limit sign environments were constructed through UCwin/Road software, 20 drivers were recruited publicly, and a driving simulation test was carried out. Using mathematical statistics to summarize and analyze the data, taking the driving speed and acceleration of the drivers as the analysis indicators, the speed behaviors of the drivers when passing the speed limit sign were analyzed, and the influence rule of the speed limit sign on the driver’s speed selection was obtained. The results show that drivers tend to drive at high speed; the 100km/h and 80km/h speed limit signs have an impact on the speed choice of some drivers, but this impact is extremely limited, and drivers will still drive over the speed limit.
Investigating the mechanism of learning, memory formation and defects in humans

Learning memory is essential for everyday living of humans. Activities taking place in different areas of the human brain including the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobe give rise to learning, memory encoding, processing and retrieval. Publicly available databases, including PubMed and Scopus were searched for relevant articles using relevant keywords, such as memory, memory defects, learning. Learning is the process of acquiring information through experience and memory is related to the reservation and storing of memory in to one’s brain. The two major categories of learning are associative and non-associative learning. Memory consists of 3 parts, sensory memory, short-term memory and long-term memory. All these takes parts in the learning cycle with the process of gathering, reflection, creating and testing. Memory retrieval can be affected by various factors such as time and memory type. Also, problems in retrieval can be caused by diseases such as dementia. Some of the diseases can be cured while others still lack an effective radical cure. This review provides a classification about learning and memory together with its mechanisms and related disorders. While our knowledge of memory encoding, processing and retrieval has been expanded significantly over the past few decades, more research is required to understand the mechanism of memory formation to find treatment for diseases associated with learning and memory.
Rapid prediction of brake disc temperature of high-speed train based on back propagation neural network

Due to the time-consuming shortcomings of the current brake disc temperature prediction method, this paper studies the rapid prediction method of the maximum temperature of the brake disc based on BP neural network. The finite element model of the brake disc is constructed by using ANSYS software, and the error between the simulation results of the finite element model and the test results is verified to be less than 5%, which verifies the accuracy of the simulation model. Based on the simulation data of the finite element model, a BP neural network temperature prediction model is constructed to realize rapid prediction of the maximum temperature of the brake disc. The results show that using the trained neural network model to predict multiple sets of test samples, the maximum relative error is about 1%, and the average relative error is only 0.6%. The model shows a good prediction effect.
Needs, creativity and care: Adorno and the future of work

This paper attempts to show how Adorno’s thought can illuminate our reflections on the future of work. It does so by situating Adorno’s conception of genuine activity in relation to his negativist critical epistemology and his subtle account of the distinction between true and false needs. What emerges is an understanding of work that can guide our aspirations for the future of work, and one we illustrate via discussions of creative work and care work. These are types of work which cater to persistent human needs, albeit ones that are distorted under present social conditions. Adorno’s thought helps us to understand why this is the case.
Double-edged sword effect of servant leadership on employee creativity: Mediation–moderation analysis

Drawing on social information processing theory (SIPT), this study examines the mediating role of creative self-efficacy and follower dependency on the relationship between servant leadership and employee creativity, focusing on task uncertainty moderation. Data was collected from 338 employees in Chinese manufacturing companies (females = 62.1%, 21–40 years old = 91.1%, bachelor’s degree or above = 86.1%). The employees completed two waves of surveys two weeks apart. Findings from a structural equation model indicate that higher servant leadership was associated with higher employee creativity through creative self-efficacy. However, high servant leadership was associated with low employee creativity through follower dependency. Creative self-efficacy mediation between servant leadership and employee creativity was stronger than follower dependency. Task uncertainty strengthened the indirect effect of servant leadership on employee creativity via creative self-efficacy and follower dependency. From these findings, it appears that servant leadership has a double-edged sword effect on employee creativity.
Peer relationships and aggressive behaviour in adolescents: Moderation by gender and mediation by media violence

We investigated the role of gender and media violence in adolescents’ peer relationship problems and aggressive behaviour. High school students (n = 144) from South-Eastern Nigeria participated in the study. Seventy-two completed an experiment in which they were exposed to media violence, while the other 72 served as attention controls. Following the interventions, the students completed measures of peer relationship problems and aggressive behaviour. Results from Hayes PROCESS Macro for moderated–mediation analyses indicated that peer relationship qualities predicted aggressive behaviour. Media violence exposure mediated the peer influence–aggressive behaviour relationship, such that the relationship was stronger for male participants with greater peer relationship problems. The relationship was weaker for female participants with lesser or no peer relationship problems. These findings are consistent with social learning theory, which proposes that children learn to engage in aggressive behaviour by observing the aggression of others, which could intensify over time.
Employee turnover intention: The predictive role of work-related burnout and psychosocial climate among university workers

This study aimed to investigate the extent to which work-related burnout and psychosocial environment predicted intention to leave employment. This cross-sectional survey sampled 1 222 Ghanaian university employees (females = 37.1%; age range = 18 to above 60 years; mean years of work experience = 5 years, SD = 3.1 years). The employees completed Demand-Control-Support, Work Burnout, Chronic Work Discrimination and Harassment, and Turnover Intention Measures. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), results indicate that work factors like job demand, job decision latitude and harassment predict turnover intention. Personal factors of depersonalisation and diminished personal accomplishment (but not emotional exhaustion) significantly influenced the turnover intention of the workers. Both female and male academic and non-academic employees reported experiencing significantly higher levels of work factors and personal factors and a moderate level of turnover intention. There is a need for university administration to create a workplace climate team to support employees in performing their roles.
The Effects of Aging on Rod Bipolar Cell Ribbon Synapses

The global health concern posed by age-related visual impairment highlights the need for further research focused on the visual changes that occur during the process of aging. To date, multiple sensory alterations related to aging have been identified, including morphological and functional changes in inner hair cochlear cells, photoreceptors, and retinal ganglion cells. While some age-related morphological changes are known to occur in rod bipolar cells in the retina, their effect on these cells and on their connection to other cells via ribbon synapses remain elusive. To investigate the effects of aging on rod bipolar cells and their ribbon synapses, we compared synaptic calcium currents, calcium dynamics, and exocytosis in zebrafish (Danio rerio) that were middle-aged (MA,18 months) or old-aged (OA, 36 months). The bipolar cell terminal in OA zebrafish exhibited a decreased number of synaptic ribbons, an increased ribbon length, and a decrease in local Ca2+ signals at the tested ribbon location with little change in the overall magnitude of the calcium current or exocytosis in response to brief pulses. Staining of the synaptic ribbons with antibodies specific for PKCα revealed shortening of the inner nuclear and plexiform layers (INL and IPL). These findings shed light on age-related changes in the retina that are related to synaptic ribbons and calcium signals.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling upregulates expression of ID1 and ID3 in pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Identification of biological modulators of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) initiation and progression is of critical importance as it remains one of the deadliest cancers. We have previously shown that ID1 and ID3 are highly expressed in human PDAC and function to repress expression of E47 target genes involved in acinar cell differentiation and quiescence. Here, mining of large bulk RNA-seq and single cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) datasets has associated high expression of ID1 and ID3 with poor PDAC patient survival. We show that upregulated expression of ID1 and ID3 in human PDAC cells occurs in response to canonical BMP signaling through pSMAD1/5/9. Conversely, treatment with Noggin, an endogenous BMP antagonist, or with DMH1 and LDN193189, small molecule inhibitors of BMP receptors, reduced expression of ID1, ID3 and cell cycle control genes. Based on our RNA-seq and immunohistochemical analyses, upregulation of BMP signaling to ID1 and ID3 is an early event that occurs in human pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and murine models of pre-neoplastic lesions induced by mutant Kras. Strikingly, the same result was observed in a murine model of pancreatitis induced by the cholecystokinin (CCK) analog caerulein. Moreover, we show that caerulein is sufficient to induce BMP signaling and expression of ID1 and ID3 in a cell-autonomous manner in non-transformed rodent exocrine pancreas cells. Together, the data suggest that canonical BMP signaling upregulates expression of ID1 and ID3 early in pancreas pathogenesis and that pancreatic cancer cells remain addicted to this important signaling circuit as the disease progresses. Future exploration of druggable targets within this pathway could be of therapeutic benefit in the treatment of pancreatitis and PDAC.
Polarimetric Calibration and Characterization of the Telops Field Portable Polarimetric-Hyperspectral Imager

Abstract : The Telops polarimetric-hyperspectral imager combines polarimetric and hyperspectral technologies to enable enhanced scene characterization. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency funded research at AFIT to leverage this capability to provide more accurate scene information to radiation transport models that will allow for more effective location of radiation sources within a region of interest. To support the objectives of the DTRA effort, there is a requirement for highly accurate radiometric, polarimetric, and spectral data on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The complex nature of the Telops instrument combined with working in the thermal IR waveband makes achieving this accuracy a challenge. This thesis develops a calibration methodology that enables high data accuracy in all three domains. In the process, a mathematical calibration framework was developed that links standard Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) calibration with standard polarimetric calibration in a straightforward manner. This provided a framework for understanding the influence of various instrument parameters (both ideal and non-ideal) on ultimate calibration performance. The framework developed is utilized to quantify the non-idealities of the system and to characterize the performance of the spectro-polarimetric calibration. Additionally, fundamental performance limits are characterized including the noise equivalent spectral radiance and noise equivalent degree of linear polarization of the system.
Spatial distribution and functional integration of displaced ipRGCs

The mammalian retina contains many distinct types of ganglion cells, which form mosaics to evenly tile the retina with cells of each type at each position of the visual field. It is well known that displaced retinal ganglion cells (dRGCs) exist with cell bodies in the inner nuclear layer, along with regularly placed RGCs with cell bodies in the ganglion cell layer. A prominent example of dRGCs are M1-type intrinsically photosensitive ganglion cells (ipRGCs) which exist in various species including humans and non-human primates. Little is known, however, about their spatial relationship with regularly placed ipRGCs. Here, we identified mouse ipRGC types M1, M2, and M4/sONɑ by immunohistochemistry and light microscopy to anatomically investigate the distribution of displaced and regularly placed cells. Reconstruction of immunolabeled dendritic mosaics from M1 and sONɑ RGCs indicated that dRGCs tiled the retina evenly with their regularly placed RGC partners. Multi-electrode array recordings revealed conventional receptive fields of displaced sONɑ RGCs which fit into the functional mosaic of their regularly placed counterparts. We further analyzed the RGC distributions across complete retinas. The analysis of regularly placed M1 ipRGCs and ɑRGCs revealed distinct density gradients where ∼16% and ∼8% occurred as dRGCs, respectively. The density distributions of dRGCs showed type-specific patterns which followed neither the global density distribution of all ganglion cells nor the local densities of corresponding cell types. Our study shows that the displacement of ganglion cell bodies into the inner nuclear layer occurs in a type-dependent manner, where dRGCs are positioned to form complete mosaics with their regularly placed RGC partners. Our data suggest that dRGCs and regularly placed RGCs serve the same functional role within their corresponding population of ganglion cells. Significance statement We applied large-scale anatomical and electrophysiological experiments in mice to show that displaced intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) complete the mosaics of their regularly placed counterparts with their dendritic trees and receptive fields. Therefore, displaced ipRGCs likely serve the same functional role as corresponding regularly placed cells. The density distributions of displaced ipRGCs showed distinct, type-specific patterns. Interestingly, they followed neither the global density distribution of all ganglion cells nor the local densities of corresponding cell types.
Motor cortex is required for flexible but not automatic motor sequences

How motor cortex contributes to motor sequence execution is much debated, with studies supporting disparate views. Here we probe the degree to which motor cortex’s engagement depends on task demands, specifically whether its role differs for highly practiced, or ‘automatic’, sequences versus flexible sequences informed by external events. To test this, we trained rats to generate three-element motor sequences either by overtraining them on a single sequence or by having them follow instructive visual cues. Lesioning motor cortex revealed that it is necessary for flexible cue-driven motor sequences but dispensable for single automatic behaviors trained in isolation. However, when an automatic motor sequence was practiced alongside the flexible task, it became motor cortex-dependent, suggesting that subcortical consolidation of an automatic motor sequence is delayed or prevented when the same sequence is produced also in a flexible context. A simple neural network model recapitulated these results and explained the underlying circuit mechanisms. Our results critically delineate the role of motor cortex in motor sequence execution, describing the condition under which it is engaged and the functions it fulfills, thus reconciling seemingly conflicting views about motor cortex’s role in motor sequence generation.
Recurrent circuits encode visual center-surround computations in the mouse superior colliculus

The interaction of retinal center-surround processes with early visual subcortical and cortical circuits forms the basis for saliency computations. The subcortical circuit mechanisms contributing to surround modulation, however, remain unclear. We developed an optogenetic approach to functionally delineate visual center and surround zones of individual neurons in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus (SCs). We demonstrate that local circuit interactions within the SCs are sufficient to generate surround suppression and that surround network activation leads to decreases in center excitation rather than increases in synaptic inhibition. Using a range of complementary methods, we reveal the identity of a SCs-based circuit with two key interacting circuit motifs, recurrent excitation and feedback inhibition, capable of modulating levels of center excitation when the visual surround is active. We propose that subcortical and cortical visual circuits are both recurrent-based and have evolved to independently perform surround modulation, thus enabling parallel saliency computations across multiple levels.
Human DCP1 is crucial for mRNA decapping and possesses paralog-specific gene regulating functions

The mRNA 5’-cap structure removal by the decapping enzyme DCP2 is a critical step in gene regulation. While DCP2 is the catalytic subunit in the decapping complex, its activity is strongly enhanced by multiple factors, particularly DCP1, which is the major activator in yeast. However, the precise role of DCP1 in metazoans has yet to be fully elucidated. Moreover, in humans, the specific biological functions of the two DCP1 paralogs, DCP1a and DCP1b, remain largely unknown. To investigate the role of human DCP1, we generated cell-lines that were deficient in DCP1a, DCP1b or both to evaluate the importance of DCP1 in the decapping machinery. Our results highlight the importance of human DCP1 in decapping process and show that the EVH1 domain of DCP1 enhances the mRNA-binding affinity of DCP2. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses outline the distinct functions of DCP1a and DCP1b in human cells, regulating specific endogenous mRNA targets and biological processes. Overall, our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanism of human DCP1 in mRNA decapping and shed light on the distinct functions of its paralogs.
Mapping human natural killer cell development in pediatric tonsil by imaging mass cytometry and high-resolution microscopy

Natural killer (NK) cells develop from CD34+ progenitors in a stage-specific manner defined by changes in cell surface receptor expression and function. Secondary lymphoid tissues, including tonsil, are sites of human NK cell development. Here we present new insights into human NK cell development in pediatric tonsil using cyclic immunofluorescence and imaging mass cytometry. We show that NK cell subset localization and interactions are dependent on NK cell developmental stage and tissue residency. NK cell progenitors are found in the interfollicular domain in proximity to cytokine-expressing stromal cells that promote proliferation and maturation. Mature NK cells are primarily found in the T-cell rich parafollicular domain engaging in cell-cell interactions that differ depending on their stage and tissue residency. The presence of local inflammation results in changes in NK cell interactions, abundance, and localization. This study provides the first comprehensive atlas of human NK cell development in secondary lymphoid tissue.