Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Translational Redefinition of UGA Codons Is Regulated by Selenium Availability*

Background: Selenium is incorporated into selenoproteins as the amino acid, selenocysteine. Results: Dietary selenium supplementation increases ribosome density downstream of selenocysteine-encoding UGA codons. Conclusion: Dietary selenium levels differentially regulate selenoprotein expression by controlling the rate-limiting step of selenocysteine incorporation. Significance: The mechanisms by which dietary selenium can affect the readout of the genetic code and selenoprotein expression have been illuminated. Incorporation of selenium into ∼25 mammalian selenoproteins occurs by translational recoding whereby in-frame UGA codons are redefined to encode the selenium containing amino acid, selenocysteine (Sec). Here we applied ribosome profiling to examine the effect of dietary selenium levels on the translational mechanisms controlling selenoprotein synthesis in mouse liver. Dietary selenium levels were shown to control gene-specific selenoprotein expression primarily at the translation level by differential regulation of UGA redefinition and Sec incorporation efficiency, although effects on translation initiation and mRNA abundance were also observed. Direct evidence is presented that increasing dietary selenium causes a vast increase in ribosome density downstream of UGA-Sec codons for a subset of selenoprotein mRNAs and that the selenium-dependent effects on Sec incorporation efficiency are mediated in part by the degree of Sec-tRNA[Ser]Sec Um34 methylation. Furthermore, we find evidence for translation in the 5′-UTRs for a subset of selenoproteins and for ribosome pausing near the UGA-Sec codon in those mRNAs encoding the selenoproteins most affected by selenium availability. These data illustrate how dietary levels of the trace element selenium can alter the readout of the genetic code to affect the expression of an entire class of proteins.
A survey: face recognition techniques under partial occlusion

Systems that rely on Face Recognition (FR) biometric have gained great importance ever since terrorist threats imposed weakness among the implemented security systems. Other biometrics i.e., fingerprints or iris recognition is not trustworthy in such situations whereas FR is considered as a fine compromise. This survey illustrates different FR practices that laid foundations on the issue of partial occlusion dilemma where faces are disguised to cheat the security system. Occlusion refers to facade of the face image which can be due to sunglasses, hair or wrapping of facial image by scarf or other accessories. Efforts on FR in controlled settings have been in the picture for past several years; however identification under uncontrolled conditions like illumination, expression and partial occlusion is quite a matter of concern. Based on literature a classification is made in this paper to solve the recognition of face in the presence of partial occlusion. These methods are named as part based methods that make use of Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Linear Discriminate Analysis (LDA), Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF), Local Non-negative Matrix Factorization (LNMF), Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and other variations. Feature based and fractal based methods consider features around eyes, nose or mouth region to be used in the recognition phase of algorithms. Furthermore the paper details the experiments and databases used by an assortment of authors to handle the problem of occlusion and the results obtained after performing diverse set of analysis. Lastly, a comparison of various techniques is shown in tabular format to give a precise overview of what different authors have already projected in this particular field.
Using Lightweight Transactions and Snapshots for Fault-Tolerant Services Based on Shared Storage Bricks

To satisfy current and future application needs in a cost effective manner, storage systems are evolving from monolithic disk arrays to networked storage architectures based on commodity components. So far, this architectural transition has mostly been envisioned as a way to scale capacity and performance. In this work we examine how the block-level interface exported by such networked storage systems can be extended to deal with reliability. Our goals are: (a) At the design level, to examine how strong reliability semantics can be offered at the block level; (b) At the implementation level, to examine the mechanisms required and how they may be provided in a modular and configurable manner. We first discuss how transactional-type semantics may be offered at the block level. We present a system design that uses the concept of atomic update intervals combined with existing, block-level locking and snapshot mechanisms, in contrast to the more common journaling techniques. We discuss in detail the design of the associated mechanisms and the trade-offs and challenges when dividing the required functionality between the file-system and the block-level storage. Our approach is based on a unified and thus, non-redundant set of mechanisms for providing reliability both at the block and file level. Our design and implementation effectively provide a tunable, lightweight transactions mechanism to higher system and application layers. Finally, we describe how the associated protocols can be implemented in a modular way in a prototype storage system we are currently building. As our system is currently being implemented, we do not present performance results
Studying the Impact of Clones on Software Defects

There are numerous studies that examine whether or not cloned code is harmful to software systems. Yet, few of them study which characteristics of cloned code in particular lead to software defects. In our work, we use survival analysis to understand the impact of clones on software defects and to determine the characteristics of cloned code that have the highest impact on software defects. Our survival models express the risk of defects in terms of basic predictors inherent to the code (e.g., LOC) and cloning predictors (e.g., number of clone siblings). We perform a case study using two clone detection tools on two large, long-lived systems using survival analysis. We determine that the defect-proneness of cloned methods is specific to the system under study and that more resources should be directed towards methods with a longer 'commit history'.
Dynamic recrystallization in tension-deformed copper single crystals

AbstractThe recrystallization of copper single crystals during high-temperature tensile deformation has been investigated. The onset of dynamic recrystallization has been examined with respect to critical parameters for the triggering step of recrystallization. The results are at variance with interpretations usually deduced from polycrystal data. Nucleation of dynamic recrystallization is attributed to deformation-induced instabilities of the dislocation structure. The orientations of the recrystallized grains emerge from highorder twin chains, which originate in the orientation of the deformed material.
Progenitor cell proliferation in the retina is dependent on Notch-independent Sonic hedgehog/Hes1 activity

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is an indispensable, extrinsic cue that regulates progenitor and stem cell behavior in the developing and adult mammalian central nervous system. Here, we investigate the link between the Shh signaling pathway and Hes1, a classical Notch target. We show that Shh-driven stabilization of Hes1 is independent of Notch signaling and requires the Shh effector Gli2. We identify Gli2 as a primary mediator of this response by showing that Gli2 is required for Hh (Hedgehog)-dependent up-regulation of Hes1. We also show using chromatin immunoprecipitation that Gli2 binds to the Hes1 promoter, which suggests that Hes1 is a Hh-dependent direct target of Gli2 signaling. Finally, we show that Shh stimulation of progenitor proliferation and cell diversification requires Gli2 and Hes1 activity. This paper is the first demonstration of the mechanistic and functional link between Shh, Gli, and Hes1 in the regulation of progenitor cell behavior.
Best-response play in partially observable card games

We address the problem of how to play optimally against a fixed opponent in a twoplayer card game with partial information like poker. A game theoretic approach to this problem would specify a pair of stochastic policies that are best-responses to each other, i.e., a Nash equilibrium. Although such a Nash-optimal policy guarantees a lower bound to the attainable payoff against any opponent, it may not necessarily be optimal against a fixed opponent. We show here that if the opponent’s policy is fixed (either known or estimated by repeated play), then we can model the problem as a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) from the perspective of one agent, and solve it by dynamic programming. In particular, for a large class of card games including poker, the derived POMDP consists of a finite number of belief states and it can be solved exactly. The resulting policy is guaranteed to be optimal even against a Nash-optimal policy. We provide experimental results to support our claims, using a simplified 8-card poker game in which Nash-policies can be computed efficiently.
Activation of peripheral kappa opioid receptors inhibits capsaicin-induced thermal nociception in rhesus monkeys.

8-Methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide (capsaicin) was locally applied in the tail of rhesus monkeys to evoke a nociceptive response, thermal allodynia, which was manifested as reduced tail-withdrawal latencies in normally innocuous 46 degrees C water. Coadministration of three kappa opioid ligands, U50,488 (3.2-100 microgram), bremazocine (0.1-3.2 microgram), and dynorphin A(1-13) (3.2-100 microgram), with capsaicin in the tail dose-dependently inhibited capsaicin-induced allodynia. This local antinociception was antagonized by a small dose of an opioid antagonist, quadazocine; (0.32 mg), applied in the tail; however, this dose of quadazocine injected s.c. in the back did not antagonize local U50,488. Comparing the relative potency of either agonist or antagonist after local and systemic administration confirmed that the site of action of locally applied kappa opioid agonists is in the tail. In addition, local nor-binaltorphimine (0.32 mg) and oxilorphan (0.1-10 microgram) antagonist studies raised the possibility of kappa opioid receptor subtypes in the periphery, which indicated that U50,488 produced local antinociception by acting on kappa1 receptors, but bremazocine acted probably on non-kappa1 receptors. These results provide functional evidence that activation of peripheral kappa opioid receptors can diminish capsaicin-induced allodynia in primates. This experimental pain model is a useful tool for evaluating peripherally antinociceptive actions of kappa agonists without central side effects and suggests new approaches for opioid pain management.
Phenotypic analysis of T cells infiltrating colon cancers: Correlations with oncogenetic status

Colorectal cancers (CRC) develop in the face of an important immune system associated with the intestinal mucosal tissue. The immune response against the tumor has been proposed to affect the prognosis of patients undergoing treatment for CRC. In this study T cells infiltrating the tumor were compared with T cells populating the unaffected neighboring mucosal tissue and cells from the peripheral blood. We observed that T cells from the tumor harbor an activated phenotype, with engagement of the NKG2D pathway in CD8 T cells. We show that mucosal and tumor-infiltrating T cells are enriched in NKG2D CD4 T cells, which exhibit cytotoxic functions. Finally, T cell populations in the tumor were modified according to its oncogenetic status, with higher percentages of CD8 T cells isolated from patients with microsatellite instable tumor status.
Recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia, a pregnancy specific disorder, is typically defined as new-onset hypertension presenting after the 20th week of gestation with proteinuria. The overall prevalence in the United States is 3% to 8% with higher incidence in specific ethnic subpopulations, notably blacks. Preeclampsia is a major source of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Moreover, women who endure preeclampsia are at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases later in life. Studies published in Hypertension and other journals during the last few years have provided new insights not only into potential mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of preeclampsia but also into the identification of potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of preeclampsia. Although numerous factors have been implicated in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, the main focus of this Recent Advances article is to review recent studies that link placental ischemia, endothelial and vascular dysfunction, and hypertension in preeclampsia. Despite intense research into the identification of molecular markers of preeclampsia, a reliable and accurate marker for the early diagnosis of preeclampsia remains elusive. A number of recent articles have suggested markers that could prove useful in the diagnosis of the disorder. With the growing interest in autoimmunity in preeclampsia, several studies have looked at immune factors in the maternal circulation as possible biomarkers. For instance, Siddiqui et al1 found widespread (≈95%) presence of agonistic autoantibodies to the angiotensin type-1 receptor (AT1-AA). Additionally, the levels of these autoantibodies correlated well with the degree of disease severity, suggesting potential use in diagnosis. In a related study, Jensen et al2 found that CD19(+)CD5(+) B-cell populations, a potential source for the AT1-AA, are significantly elevated in the maternal circulation of patients with preeclampsia during late gestation when compared with normal-pregnant controls at the same gestational stage. One of the most active areas of research in preeclampsia is angiogenic …
A new iterated two-band diffusion equation: theory and its application

In this paper, we propose an iterated two-band filtering method to solve the selective image smoothing problem. We prove that a discrete computation step in an iterated nonlinear diffusion-based filtering algorithm is equivalent to a sequence of operations, including decomposition, regularization, and then reconstruction, in the proposed two-band filtering scheme. To correctly separate the high frequency components from the low frequency ones in the decomposition process, we adopt a dyadic wavelet-based approximation scheme. In the regularization process, we use a diffusivity function as a guide to retain useful data and suppress noises. Finally, the signal of the next stage, which is a "smoother" version of the signal at the previous stage, can be computed by reconstructing the decomposed low frequency component and the regularized high frequency component. Based on the proposed scheme, the smoothing operation can be applied to the correct targets. Experimental results show that our new approach is really efficient in noise removing.
Influence of gastrin on human astrocytic tumor cell proliferation.

BACKGROUND Gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK) mediate their effects through at least two types of receptors (CCK receptors A and B). While it has been hypothesized that gastrin, a stimulator of gastric acid secretion, is also a neurotransmitter and a stimulator of cell proliferation in various normal and neoplastic tissues, its effect on astrocytic brain tumors has not been actively investigated. PURPOSE Our goal was to determine the effects of gastrin and gastin and/or CCK antagonists on the proliferation in vitro of astrocytic tumor cells by use of both established cell lines and primary cell cultures of tumor tissue. METHODS Ten established astrocytic tumor cell lines, SW1088, SW1783, Hs683, H4, U87, U118, U138, U373, T98G, and A172, were studied. The effects of added gastrin (at 0.01, 0.1, and microM) and the gastrin/CCK antagonists L-365,260, CI-988, L-364,718, and JMV 234 (each at 0.01, 0.1, and 1 microM) on the cellular proliferation rates of the 10 cell lines were indirectly measured by use of the colorimetric tetrazolium assay. The influence of gastrin (at 0.01 microM) on the cellular proliferation of primary cultures from nine freshly explanted astrocytic tumors was assessed by means of tritiated thymidine uptake and autoradiography. RESULTS At specific concentrations, added gastrin increased the cellular proliferation of three established astrocytic cell lines (A172, Hs683, and SW1088), decreased it in two (U373 and T98G), and was without effect on the remaining five. Gastrin decreased cellular proliferation in one primary astrocytic tumor cell culture, stimulated it in five, and had no apparent effect in the remaining three. L-365,260, a CCK receptor B antagonist used at 0.01 microM, increased cellular proliferation in seven cell lines (A172, H4, Hs683, SW1783, T98G, U118, and U138), decreased it in one (U87), and had no effect in the remaining two. CI-988, another CCK receptor B antagonist used at 0.01 microM, inhibited cellular proliferation in five cell lines (A172, H4, SW1783, U373, and U87), stimulated it in two (T98G and U138), and had no effect in three. The CCK receptor A antagonists L-364,718 and JMV 234, both used at 0.01 microM, affected the cellular proliferation of only three of the 10 cell lines. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that gastrin (and perhaps CCK that belongs to the same peptide family) may play a role in the growth of a substantial proportion of human astrocytic tumors.
Numerical analysis of liquid fraction in solid–liquid phase transformation of semisolid alloy

Abstract The non-linear mathematical expression of liquid fraction in solid–liquid phase transformation of semisolid alloy was derived by thermodynamic equations, and the numerical solution of the non-linear mathematical expression was obtained by the Gauss Newton iteration algorithm. The solid–liquid phase transformation of hypereutectic Al–20Si–3Fe–1Mn–4Cu–1Mg alloy was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, and it was used for the expression reliability validation and compared with the Scheil linear regression expression. The results showed that the liquid fraction of the semisolid alloy was not increased linearly with the heating temperature increasing, but increased non-linearly, which was not consistent with the Scheil expression, and the growth rate of liquid fraction was not entirely the same in different temperature ranges. The non-linear mathematical expression data fit well with the experimental data, and the non-linear mathematical expression had a smaller discrete degree and higher credibility compared with the Scheil linear regression expression. The relationship of liquid fraction and heating temperature of the semisolid alloy can be reflected by means of the non-linear mathematical expression in the case of solid–liquid phase transformation.
Causative factors for sexual and reproductive health status of pregnant adolescent girls in urban communities of Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract Background The overall goal of this study was to determine the causative factors for pregnancy status in adolescent girls in two communities in the Lagos Island local government area. Methods A mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) study reviewing routine health facility antenatal care (ANC) records and conducting focus group discussions among 46 pregnant adolescents, exploring their views about sex, contraception, pregnancy and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, was carried out. Key informant interviews were also carried out among healthcare workers and community members to assess their perceptions of adolescents’ SRH problems. Results Five percent of those accessing ANC services were adolescents. Pregnant adolescents were found to access health services at later stages of their pregnancies due to the shame and stigma associated with their condition. The presence of morbidity in the form of anaemia (33%) and HIV (2.4%) was also found in this population. Social factors such as peer pressure and the desire to develop or maintain a relationship were found to be the major reasons for initiation of sexual activity by the adolescents. There was generally poor knowledge and utilisation of contraceptives, leading to unprotected sex and, thus, unintended pregnancies. Conclusion SRH information and services should be made readily available to adolescents at all levels of care.
Consumer Preferences for Olive Oil in Tirana, Albania

Increase in urban middle income consumers along with consolidation of the retail sector has created changes in olive oil consumption preferences in Albania. The objective of this study is to inform stakeholders in the olive oil industry about consumer preferences. A Conjoint Choice Experiment (CCE) was used to design the survey and latent class approach used to analyze the data. The results show a strong preference for domestic olive oil and small niche markets that cater to specific consumers. The study also shows a gap between preference and reality that needs to be addressed by the stakeholders in the olive oil industry.
Designing A 3D printing based channel emulator

This research explored the possibility of building channel emulators by utilizing fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing technology, which provides a rapid and low cost method with high flexibility to produce parts with many shapes of interest. Algorithms are developed for obtaining the printing pattern and loss profile based on S parameters of a target channel to be emulated. Parts with different dielectric constants, and loss tangents can be printed using filament with high dielectric constant or conductive fillers. Those parts will be placed on a low loss transmission line. As a result, different channel emulators can be built with the advantage of avoiding complicated electronic components, and only being limited in the frequency range by the base trace and its connectors.
Preparation and Properties of Sponge Rubber Based on Natural Rubber and Cassava Starch

In this work, the sponge rubbers based on cassava starch masterbatch in latex phase with the difference technique (non-gelatinized and gelatinized cassava starch) were preformed. The cassava starch contents from 0 to 70 phr were also studied. The cure characteristic, mechanical and morphological properties were investigated. It was found that the scorch time and cure time were increased with an increasing of cassava starch contents in both techniques. The mechanical properties i.e., tensile strength, elongation at break and tear strength were decreased with an increasing of cassava starch contents, except 500% modulus. However, the sponge based on gelatinized technique gave the better mechanical properties than that of non-gelatinized cassava starch. The SEM micrographs of sponge NR from gelatinized technique were also able to confirm a good interfacial interaction between hydrophilic cassava starch and hydrophobic NR.