Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human cytomegalovirus immediate-early 2 (IE2) protein can transactivate the human hsp70 promoter by alleviation of Dr1-mediated repression

The immediate-early 1 and 2 (IE1 and IE2, respectively) proteins of human cytomegalovirus are known transcription factors, which regulate the expression of viral and cellular genes. Transcriptional activation by IE2 is dependent on the presence of a TATA motif in target promoters, and IE2 can interact directly with the TATA-binding protein (TBP) component of TFIID. TBP is known to be the target for transcriptional repression by the cellular Dr1 protein, and this factor has been shown to repress expression from the hsp70 promoter in vivo. Since this promoter is up-regulated by IE2, we asked whether the effects of Dr1 can be overcome by IE2. We report here that IE2 can overcome Dr1-mediated repression of the hsp70 promoter in vivo and that IE2 can interact with Dr1 in vivo and in vitro. We also demonstrate a previously unreported activity of Dr1, inhibition of DNA binding by TBP, and show that IE2 is able to overcome this inhibition in vitro, suggesting a mechanism for the TATA dependency of IE2-mediated trans activation.
EEL-1, a Hect E3 ubiquitin ligase, controls asymmetry and persistence of the SKN-1 transcription factor in the early C. elegans embryo

During early divisions of the C. elegans embryo, many maternally supplied determinants accumulate asymmetrically, and this asymmetry is crucial for proper cell fate specification. SKN-1, a transcription factor whose message is maternally supplied to the embryo, specifies the mesendodermal cell fate. In the 2-cell embryo, SKN-1 is expressed at a higher level in the posterior cell. This asymmetry becomes more pronounced at the 4-cell stage, when SKN-1 is high in the posterior cell's daughters and low in the daughters of the anterior blastomere. To date, the direct mechanisms that control SKN-1 distribution remain unknown. In this report, we identify eel-1, which encodes a putative Hect E3 ubiquitin ligase that shares several domains of similarity to the mammalian E3 ligase Mule. EEL-1 binds SKN-1 and appears to target SKN-1 for degradation. EEL-1 has two functions in regulating SKN-1 during early embryogenesis. First, eel-1 promotes the spatial asymmetry of SKN-1 accumulation at the 2- and 4-cell stages. Second, eel-1 acts in all cells to downregulate SKN-1 from the 12- to the 28-cell stage. Although loss of eel-1 alone causes a reduction in SKN-1 asymmetry at the 2-cell stage, the function of eel-1 in both the spatial and temporal regulation of SKN-1 is redundant with the activities of other genes. These data strongly suggest that multiple, functionally redundant pathways cooperate to ensure precise control of SKN-1 asymmetry and persistence in the early embryo.
Not developed yet? Alternative ways to include locations without changes in land use change models

Biogeographers have developed a new generation of statistical models called presence-only models, which require no data concerning the absence of a species and do not assume that the absence of a species indicates habitat unsuitability. Both characteristics are especially useful when modeling a species that is actively spreading across a landscape. Although urban expansion is sometimes equated to an invading species, the applicability of presence-only models has not yet been explored when modeling urban growth. This article compares predictions of urban growth using a presence-only model (ecological niche factor analysis) and a more traditional presence–absence model (logistic regression). An additional model used pseudo-absence sites, from the presence-only model output, as input into the presence–absence model. The models were applied to New Jersey's Barnegat Bay Watershed. Overall, the traditional presence–absence model performed the best, although the presence-only model was sufficiently similar to warrant further exploration of presence-only models when no reliable absence data (i.e., locations where no conversion occurred) exists. However, due to data-formatting requirements of the presence-only model, it is difficult to accommodate data pertaining to administrative boundaries, which are inherently Boolean. Finally, the output based on the pseudo-absence approach overpredicted urban conversion when compared to the other approaches.
Standardization activities in the ITU for a QoE assessment of IPTV

This article gives an overview of the state of the art of objective quality assessment of audio and visual media and its standardization activities in the ITU. IPTV services are becoming one of the most promising applications over next generation networks. To provide end users with comfortable, stable, and economical services, QoE assessment methodologies for quality design and management are indispensable.
Bariatric surgery: Mechanisms, indications and outcomes

The rising problem of obesity is causing major health problems, reduced quality of life and reduced life expectancy. It now generates approximately 10% of all health costs. The progression of the problem indicates preventive measures have been unsuccessful so far. Only bariatric surgical treatments have been able to achieve substantial and durable weight loss. Gastric banding and gastric bypass are used in more than 90% of bariatric operations. The proportion of each varies from greater than 95% bands in Australia, about 50/50 in Europe and USA and nearly 100% bypass in South America. The availability of follow up is a prime determinant of choice. Understanding the mechanisms of effect for the bariatric procedures is central to optimizing their effect. The traditional narrow concepts of restrictive (blocking the transit of food) and malabsorptive (preventing the absorption of food) should be discarded and the importance of induction of satiety, change of taste, diversion of chyme, neural and hormonal mediation and the effects of aversion need to be included. The primary mechanism of effect for gastric banding is the generation of a background of satiety and early post‐prandial satiation via specifically structured vagal afferents at the level of the band. At five years after banding or bypass, there is typically a loss of 30–35 kg representing 50–60% of excess weight. This weight loss has been shown to be associated with major improvement or complete resolution of multiple common and serious health problems plus improvement in quality of life and in survival. Level 1 evidence supports the use of the gastric band over optimal lifestyle therapy. Randomized controlled trials has shown gastric banding to achieve better weight loss, health and quality of life than optimal lifestyle therapies for adults above a BMI of 30 and adolescents above a BMI of 35. In adults with mild to severe obesity and type 2 diabetes gastric banding leads to remission in three out of four individuals. Perioperative risk is significant with gastric bypass and late revisional procedures can be required after both procedures. Gastric banding is indicated in any adult who has a BMI over 30, has problems with their obesity and has made substantial effort to reduce their weight by lifestyle methods. Gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion should be considered in those with BMI greater than 35 if banding is contraindicated or has been unsuccessful.
Mosquito vector‐associated microbiota: Metabarcoding bacteria and eukaryotic symbionts across habitat types in Thailand endemic for dengue and other arthropod‐borne diseases

Abstract Vector‐borne diseases are a major health burden, yet factors affecting their spread are only partially understood. For example, microbial symbionts can impact mosquito reproduction, survival, and vectorial capacity, and hence affect disease transmission. Nonetheless, current knowledge of mosquito‐associated microbial communities is limited. To characterize the bacterial and eukaryotic microbial communities of multiple vector species collected from different habitat types in disease endemic areas, we employed next‐generation 454 pyrosequencing of 16S and 18S rRNA amplicon libraries, also known as metabarcoding. We investigated pooled whole adult mosquitoes of three medically important vectors, Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus, collected from different habitats across central Thailand where we previously characterized mosquito diversity. Our results indicate that diversity within the mosquito microbiota is low, with the majority of microbes assigned to one or a few taxa. Two of the most common eukaryotic and bacterial genera recovered (Ascogregarina and Wolbachia, respectively) are known mosquito endosymbionts with potentially parasitic and long evolutionary relationships with their hosts. Patterns of microbial composition and diversity appeared to differ by both vector species and habitat for a given species, although high variability between samples suggests a strong stochastic element to microbiota assembly. In general, our findings suggest that multiple factors, such as habitat condition and mosquito species identity, may influence overall microbial community composition, and thus provide a basis for further investigations into the interactions between vectors, their microbial communities, and human‐impacted landscapes that may ultimately affect vector‐borne disease risk.
Online Visual Tracking via Coupled Object-Context Dictionary

(a) (b) Figure 1: Illustration of constructing the coupled dictionaries. The red rectangles in (a) and (b) represent the target bounding boxes. The green squares in (a), which are generated by sliding windows outside the target bounding box, correspond to basis patches involved in the background dictionary N. The blue squares in (a) are generated inside the target bounding box in a similar way, which constitute the noisy target dictionary P.
Personality and PTSD II: Personality assessment of PTSD‐diagnosed Vietnam veterans using the Cloninger Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ)

Examined Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) responses of 53 Vietnam veterans with Combat‐Related Posttraumatic stress disorder. When compared with normative data, veterans were found to be high on harm avoidance (HA), low on reward dependence (RD), and high on novelty seeking (NS). High HA and high NS scores were predictive of increased PTSD symptom severity as assessed by the MMPI‐2 PK (PTSD)scale, Mississippi Combat Scale for PTSD (M‐PTSD), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Low RD was associated with higher scores on both the MMPI‐2 PK and M‐PTSD scales. The observed “high HA‐low RD‐high NS” TPQ configuration is consistent with previous research findings/clinical observations, and provides insights into a pattern of dysfunctional personality traits often observed in this population. Depression and Anxiety 6:70–77, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A new genotype 2 subcluster identified among GBV‐C strains circulating in the Lisbon metropolitan area of Portugal

The rate of infection by the GBV‐C virus was investigated in a group of 214 individuals at high risk of infection with parenterally transmitted viruses, and all living in the Lisbon metropolitan area (Portugal). RNA was extracted from plasma samples, and a fragment of the 5′‐UTR was amplified by RT‐PCR, disclosing a high prevalence of infection (40.7%). Most probably due to similar modes of viral transmission, the majority of GBV‐C (+) individuals were found to be coinfected with HIV and/or HCV. A genomic region covering part of the E1/E2 glycoprotein coding sequence was amplified from approximately half of the GBV‐C positive samples (44/87). Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences showed segregation of Portuguese GBV‐C strains with genotype 1 (G1, n = 10) and genotype 2 (G2, n = 24) references. Genotype 1 was significantly associated with the African descent of those infected. Curiously, some of the strains assigned to genotype 2 were shown to form a separate cluster (designated G2*) in both neighbor‐joining and Bayesian phylogenetic trees, which was confirmed by multivariate principal coordinate analysis. However, analysis of the distribution of intra‐ and intergenotype genetic distances support the hypothesis that rather than corresponding to a new viral genotype, G2* is a geographical subcluster within the genotype 2 radiation. J. Med. Virol. 82:452–459, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
EN FACE IMAGING OF PACHYCHOROID SPECTRUM DISORDERS WITH SWEPT-SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY

Purpose: To correlate clinical manifestations with choroidal morphology in pachychoroid disorders, including central serous chorioretinopathy, pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy, pachychoroid neovasculopathy, and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, using en face swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: Patients with pachychoroid spectrum diagnoses were identified nonconsecutively through a review of charts and multimodal imaging. Each eye was categorized as uncomplicated pachychoroid, pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy, central serous chorioretinopathy, pachychoroid neovasculopathy, or polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. All patients included in this series then underwent bilateral swept-source OCT. Results: Sixty-six eyes of 33 patients were included. Numbers assigned to diagnostic categories were 8 uncomplicated pachychoroid, 13 pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy, 27 central serous chorioretinopathy, 15 pachychoroid neovasculopathy, and 3 polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. One eye was classified as normal. Swept-source OCT choroidal thickness maps confirmed increased thickness under the areas of pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy, central serous chorioretinopathy, type 1 NV (pachychoroid neovasculopathy), or polyps (polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy). En face swept-source OCT showed dilated outer choroidal vessels in all eyes. In several eyes with a chronic disease, focal choriocapillaris atrophy with inward displacement of deep choroidal vessels was noted. Conclusion: Although clinical manifestations of pachychoroid spectrum disorders vary considerably, these entities share morphologic findings in the choroid, including increased thickness and dilated outer choroidal vessels. En face swept-source OCT localizes these changes to disease foci and shows additional findings that may unify our understanding of disease pathogenesis.
Modeling and Control of Inverted Flight of a Variable-Pitch Quadrotor

This paper carries out the mathematical modeling, simulation, and control law design for a quadrotor with variable-pitch propellers. The use of variable-pitch propeller for thrust variation instead of RPM regulation facilitates generation of negative thrust, thereby augmenting the rate of change of thrust generation amenable for aggressive maneuvering. Blade element theory along with momentum theory is used to estimate propeller thrust and torque essential for formulating equation of motion of the vehicle. The proposed flight dynamics model is used for non-linear control design using dynamic inversion technique, which is then used to stabilize, track reference trajectory, and simulate flip maneuver. The rotor torque is an irrational function of the control input which makes the control design challenging. To address this problem, the control design employs three loops. The outer loop solves the translational dynamics to generate the thrust, pitch angle, and roll angle commands required to track the prescribed trajectory. Using the command generated in the outer loop, the inner loop simplifies the rotational dynamics to provide the desired rate of angular velocities. A control allocation loop is added to address the problem of nonlinearity associated with rotor torque. This is done by introducing the derivative of thrust coefficient as a virtual control input. These virtual inputs determine the derivatives of thrust and body moments, which in turn is used to generate the required thrust and body moments. The concept is validated by showing attitude stabilization in real flight for a variable pitch quadrotor. The performance of the proposed design is shown through simulated results for attitude stabilization and trajectory following. Reverse thrust capability of variable-pitch quadrotor is also shown by performing flip maneuver in which quadrotor roll angle changes from 0 to 180 degrees.
Time domain analysis for stability reserve identification in large power systems

This work is treating the problem of stability reserve identification in a power system when performing off-line simulations. Even in off-line simulation the stability reserve of a power system is not a straight forward analysis. The difficulties appear when trying to solve the stability reserve aspect for a large power system. For this kind of electrical network the common well known analysis techniques are not available mainly due to computational burdens. An original methodology to find out the stability reserves of a power system is proposed. The stability reserves of a power system are very important in assessing the risk of a blackout in that particular network. For preventing blackouts first step consists in analyzing the reasons and the mechanism of the registered blackouts. The second step is to understand how to prevent the blackouts. Present paper is focusing of the second step by finding out a methodology to assess the stability reserves for a power system or a specific area from a power system beyond that a blackout might appear.
On Managing Multiple WCDMA Carriers under Varying Traffic Conditions

-This paper proposes a novel framework for developing advanced frequency planning algorithms in WCDMA scenarios under changing traffic conditions. It is based on an analytical model that captures the influence among the different cells by means of the derivatives of the corresponding cell load factors. Then, the cells having the largest influence can be considered as candidates to operate with a different frequency. The proposed algorithm is compared by means of simulations with an algorithm based on load measurements, revealing that the proposed approach is able to capture the relevant cells more accurately. Finally the proposed approach is generalised to a scenario with multiple cells and frequencies by means of an heuristic allocation method.
Child Abuse and Neglect Among Children Who Drop Out of School: A Study in Izmir, Turkey

Child abuse and neglect (CAN), and dropping out of school have long been recognized as pervasive social problems globally, and Turkey is no exception. This study aims to explore the prevalence and incidence of CAN in children who drop out of school of Turkey, using the ISPCAN Child abuse Screening Tool, Children's Version, which is an appropriate tool for multinational comparisons. Data from a convenience sample of children who drop out of school age 11, 13, and 16 from Izmir were collected either by interviews or by self-completion. The results show that, compared to children who do not drop out of school, children who drop out of school have higher rates of psychological and physical abuse and neglect within the family. This study not only highlights the need for preventive laws for CAN and dropping out of school, but also points to direction for future research.
“Filiform” Serrated Adenomas: A Clinicopathologic and Immunophenotypic Study of 18 Cases

In this study, we describe a previously uncharacterized type of adenomatous polyp of the colorectum that shows prominent, thin, elongated projections of neoplastic epithelium with a serrated contour, which we have termed “filiform serrated adenoma” (SA). Routinely processed polypectomy specimens from 18 patients with filiform SA and 23 controls with traditional (nonfiliform) SA were evaluated for their clinical and pathologic features, and immunohistochemically stained for a variety of markers (O6-methylguanine methyltransferase, MLH1, MSH2, CDX2, nuclear β-catenin, p53, and Ki-67) designed to evaluate their molecular and proliferative characteristics. DNA was extracted from the paraffin-embedded materials, amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and analyzed for microsatellite instability, BRAF, K-ras, and p53 mutational status. Five cases contained sufficient non-neoplastic tissue for dissection and DNA extraction, allowing analysis of loss of heterozygosity. The study group consisted of 7 males and 11 females of mean age 64 years (range: 42 to 89 y). All 18 filiform SAs were located in the left colon, including 15 (83%) that occurred in the rectum, compared with 43% of the control group (P=0.03). Filiform SAs were also larger (1.6 cm) than SAs (mean: 1.2 cm, P=0.02), but no other clinical differences were noted. Most (56%) filiform SAs contained marked stromal edema and tall nonmucinous cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm (61%). High-grade dysplasia was present in 4/18 (22%) cases. Four (22%) filiform SAs also contained nonserrated adenomatous elements with a villous (3 cases) or tubular (1 case) growth pattern. Two (11%) cases contained adjacent areas of sessile SAs and 4 (22%) had hyperplastic areas. None of the polyps in the control group showed stromal edema, high-grade dysplasia, or mixed elements. Polyps in both groups demonstrated comparable staining patterns for O6-methylguanine methyltransferase, MLH-1, MSH-2, CDX2, β-catenin, and Ki-67, and none showed increased nuclear p53 expression. Low-frequency microsatellite instability was present in 5/12 (42%) filiform SAs, 7/12 (58%) were microsatellite stable. Mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway abnormalities were present in 71% of the cases [7/14 (50%) with BRAF and 3/14 (21%) with K-ras mutations]. Four cases showed silent p53 mutations upon direct sequencing and 4 revealed loss of heterozygosity at the loci evaluated, including 1 at D5S346 [adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene], 1 at D17S250 (p53 gene), and 2 at MYCL (chromosome 1p34). We conclude that filiform SA potentially represents an unusual variant of SA with a predilection for the left colon, particularly the rectum.
Ecological impacts of fluridone and copper sulphate in catfish aquaculture ponds

Fluridone and copper sulphate are often used for controlling macrophytes and algae in aquaculture ponds. The present study examined the ecological effects of these chemicals on macrophyte, phytoplankton, and zooplankton biomass; plankton community structure; water quality parameters; and fish survival and yield in catfish culture ponds using a randomized complete block design. The estimated half‐life of fluridone in the individual ponds ranged from 1.6 d to 10.8 d. Free copper ion activity in ponds treated with copper sulphate was dynamic, ranging from pCu of 7.7 to 8.9 after each application and decreasing to approximately 12 (1 × 10−12 M) within 1 wk after each application, approaching observed values in control ponds (pCu = 12.3–13.4). No difference in macrophyte biomass was observed among treatments. Fluridone and copper treatments elicited different responses within the phytoplankton community. Copper treatments reduced Cyanophyta biomass but increased biomass of more tolerant taxa among the Chlorophyta and Chrysophyta. Fluridone treatments reduced total phytoplankton biomass including Cyanophyta and increased the sensitivity of Chlorophyta and Chrysophyta to copper. Copper also affected zooplankton community composition as a result of direct toxic effects on sensitive zooplankton taxa (e.g., Cladocera), whereas Copepoda biomass in copper‐treated ponds exceeded that in controls. Catfish survival and yield were not significantly different among treatments. The results of the present study suggest that fluridone and copper interact at realistic application rates, increasing the ability to control algae compared with treatments where they are applied alone. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1183–1194. © 2015 SETAC