Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular cloning, transcriptional regulation, and differential expression profiling of vitellogenin in two wing‐morphs of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, is a serious pest of rice crops throughout Asia and exhibits wing dimorphism, with brachypterous adults having reduced wings and macropterous adults possessing fully developed wings. To understand the reproductive strategies in two wing‐morphs of this insect, the transcript encoding the major yolk protein precursor, vitellogenin (Vg), was cloned. The complete mRNA transcript was 6314 bp, which encodes a protein of 2063 residues including an 18‐residue putative signal peptide. Analysis of the mature protein revealed two vitellogenin‐N (or lipoprotein amino‐terminal) domains near the N‐terminus and a von Willebrand factor type D domain near the C‐terminus. In addition, a highly conserved motif GL/ICG, and a number of cysteine residues were identified near the C‐terminus. Northern blot analysis identified a ∼6.8 kb Vg gene transcript that was expressed exclusively in the adult female fat body cells. The expression profile revealed that the Vg gene starts to be expressed earlier (on day 3) in brachypters as compared to macropters where the mRNA transcript was observed on day 4. However, in both morphs, the amount of Vg mRNA increased to reach high levels during vitellogenic periods [from day 4 (in brachypters) and day 5 (in macropters) and onwards]. Reflecting the RNA transcription pattern, the Vg signal was detected by immunoblotting on day 3 and day 4 in haemolymph of brachypterous and macropterous females, respectively, and that was increased every day and remained high during the vitellogenic periods. Furthermore, the topical application of juvenile hormone (JH) III had up‐regulated the Vg gene expression suggesting that the Vg gene is regulated by JH in N. lugens. In addition, it was demonstrated by Southern blot analysis that there exists a single copy of the gene in the N. lugens genome. A delayed trend in expression (of both the transcript and the protein) demonstrated by macropterous females in the present studies supports the hypothesis of prereproductive long distance migration in this wing‐dimorphic species.
Quadratic regulator based optimal state feedback controller for stability improvement of inverter based microgrids

Small signal stability of inverter based droop controlled microgrid is a major problem from past decade. In this work, an optimal state feedback controller is designed to improve the stability of the two inverter based test microgrid. The detailed full order small signal model of the test microgrid is developed in state space considering network and load dynamics. Eigen value and sensitivity analysis is done to find out the states which affects the stability of the system and their respective participation in shaping the critical modes of the microgrid. Linear quadratic regulator (LQR) based an optimal controller is then implemented into the single inverter model which provides a state feedback to the open loop system to enhance stability. Eigen value analysis is done using MATLAB to prove that the designed controller improves the dynamic response of the individual inverter by providing sufficient damping to the oscillatory modes. Hence it increases the overall stability of the microgrid.
Maternal perception of child overweight status and its association with weight-related parenting practices, their children’s health behaviours and weight change in China

Abstract Objective Childhood obesity has increased rapidly in China, but understanding is limited on how parents perceive their child’s weight status and how this perception affects weight-related parenting practices. We examined maternal perception of her child’s weight status and its association with demographics, subsequent weight-related parenting practices, the child’s health behaviours and weight change. Design/Setting/Subjects Maternal perception of child’s weight status and health behaviours from the China Health and Nutrition Surveys were assessed at baseline and in follow-up surveys for 816 children aged 6–18 years during 2004–2011. Associations were tested using mixed models. Results Overall, maternal and child perceptions of the child’s weight status were fairly consistent (κ w=0·56), 63·8 % of mothers had correct perception. While 9·6 % of mothers perceived their child as overweight, 10·9 % of children did so, and 13·6 % of children were indeed overweight. Compared with mothers who viewed their children as normal weight, mothers who thought their children were overweight were more likely to encourage their children to increase their physical activity (OR; 95 % CI: 1·8; 1·0, 3·3) and to diet (4·3; 2·3, 7·8). Children perceived as overweight by their mothers were more likely to have insufficient physical activity (2·8; 1·6, 4·7) and gain more weight during follow-up (BMI Z-score, β (se): 1·0 (0·1); P<0·01) than children perceived by their mothers as normal weight. Conclusions In China, mothers who perceive their child as overweight are more likely to encourage their child to exercise and modify their diet for weight management, but this encouragement does not seem to improve the child’s health behaviours and weight status.
Fractionation of cornstalk into cellulose and lignin for the production of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose

This thesis project aimed to fractionate cornstalk into cellulose and lignin, and utilize the crude cornstalk-derived cellulose for the production of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and the lignin for the sybthesis of bio-based phenol-formaldehyde resole resins as wood adhesives. In this thesis work, cornstalk was efficiently fractionated into crude cellulose and crude lignin in mixed solvents of acetic acid, formic acid and water at a solid/agent ratio of 1:5 (g/mL) at 80-100 °C for 120-240 min. The best conditions for organosolv fractionation of cornstalk among the test conditions were determined as follows: mixed solvent of acetic acid/formic acid/water (3:6:1, v/v/v), HCl as the catalyst, 90 °C and 180 min residence time, where the yield (and purity) of crude cellulose and lignin products were approximate 53% (85%) and 38% (44%), respectively, on the basis of mass of oven-dried cornstalk, and the obtained crude cellulose products have very low residual lignin contents (<4%). The crude cellulose fractionated from cornstalk was further used, after bleaching, as feedstock for the synthesis of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The best molar ratio of the reaction reagents (NaOH/ClCH2COOH /cellulose) among the test conditions were investigated and determined to be 4.0:2.5:1 and 4.6:2.8:1, or the molar ratio of NaOH/ClCH2COOH being 1.6-1.64. The CMC products obtained at the best reactants molar ratios have relatively high water solubility and reasonably high viscosity and molecular weights. The average degree of substitution (DS) of these two CMC products obtained at the best molar ratios among the test conditions are 0.57 and 0.85, respectively.
A VMM-Level Approach to Shortening Downtime of Operating Systems Reboots in Software Updates

Operating system (OS) reboots are an essential part of updating kernels and applications on laptops and desktop PCs. Long downtime during OS reboots severely disrupts users’ computational activities. This long disruption discourages the users from conducting OS reboots, failing to enforce them to conduct software updates. Although the dynamic updatable techniques have been widely studied, making the system “reboot-free” is still difficult due to their several limitations. As a result, users cannot benefit from new functionality or better performance, and even worse, unfixed vulnerabilities can be exploited by attackers. This paper presents ShadowReboot, a virtual machine monitor (VMM)based approach that shortens downtime of OS reboots in software updates. ShadowReboot conceals OS reboot activities from user’s applications by spawning a VM dedicated to an OS reboot and systematically producing the rebooted state where the updated kernel and applications are ready for use. ShadowReboot provides an illusion to the users that the guest OS travels forward in time to the rebooted state. ShadowReboot offers the following advantages. It can be used to apply patches to the kernels and even system configuration updates. Next, it does not require any special patch requiring detailed knowledge about the target kernels. Lastly, it does not require any target kernel modification. We implemented a prototype in VirtualBox 4.0. 10 OSE. Our experimental results show that ShadowReboot successfully updated software on unmodified commodity OS kernels and shortened the downtime of commodity OS reboots on five Linux distributions (Fedora, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Cent, and SUSE) by 91 to 98%. key words: virtual machines, software updates
Three Putative Photosensory Light, Oxygen or Voltage (LOV) Domains with Distinct Biochemical Properties from the Filamentous Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

Abstract Light, oxygen or voltage (LOV) domains function as blue-light sensors in the phototropin family of photoreceptors found in plants, algae and bacteria. We detected putative LOV domains (Alr3170-LOV, All2875-LOV and Alr1229-LOV) in the genome of a filamentous cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. These cyanobacterial LOV domains are closely clustered with the known LOV domains. Alr3170-LOV and All2875-LOV carry the conserved cysteine residue unique to the photoactive LOV, whereas Alr1229-LOV does not. We expressed these three LOV domains in Escherichia coli and purified them. In fact, Alr3170-LOV and All2875-LOV that are conserved in Nostoc punctiforme, a related species, bound flavin mononucleotide and showed spectral changes unique to known LOV domains on illumination with blue light. Alr3170-LOV was completely photoreduced and dark reversion was slow, whereas All2875-LOV was slowly photoreduced and dark reversion was rapid. For comparison, AvAll2875-LOV in a closely related A. variabilis was also studied as a homolog of All2875-LOV. Finally, we observed that Alr1229-LOV that is not conserved in N. punctiforme showed no flavin binding.
Instigators of activity intolerance.

SUMMARY. During the course of this century several Western societies have experienced an insufficiently explained exponential increase in disability due to back pain. Recently the International Association for the Study of Pain's Task Force on Back Pain in the Work Place summed up the present problem and made recommendations for its future management. Management, and possibly prevention, are likely to be assisted by understanding the reasons responsible for this unsustainably costly phenomenon. It is proposed that one such reason involves maladaptive fear-avoidance beliefs and deconditioning behaviour arising out of convictions as to some structural-anatomical-biomechanical (SAB) basis for the pain. Also, these beliefs and convictions may receive neurophysiological endorsement from peripheral afferent input that is normally not registered as being 'pathologically'/clinically painful.The Task Force's proposed 'demedicalization' of non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) together with the endorsement of (chiropractic) 'manipulation' will probably help reduce the immediate costs of invasive treatments and/or hospitalization as well as the deconditioning consequences of prolonged inactivity. However, it is contended that, in the longer term, it would also be necessary to deal effectively with maladaptive fear-avoidance beliefs and SAB-based convictions as to the cause, meaning and management of back pain. In some Western societies (manipulative) physiotherapists may be given the opportunity to be a part of this 'demedicalization' process. Therefore, it would now be appropriate to consider the issues involved, some of which are raised here, in order to help decide what direction the physiotherapy profession might take. Copyright 1997 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
Quantifying uncertainties in soil carbon responses to changes in global mean temperature and precipitation

Abstract. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the largest carbon pool in terrestrial ecosystems and may play a key role in biospheric feedbacks with elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in a warmer future world. We examined the simulation results of seven terrestrial biome models when forced with climate projections from four representative-concentration-pathways (RCPs)-based atmospheric concentration scenarios. The goal was to specify calculated uncertainty in global SOC stock projections from global and regional perspectives and give insight to the improvement of SOC-relevant processes in biome models. SOC stocks among the biome models varied from 1090 to 2650 Pg C even in historical periods (ca. 2000). In a higher forcing scenario (i.e., RCP8.5), inconsistent estimates of impact on the total SOC (2099–2000) were obtained from different biome model simulations, ranging from a net sink of 347 Pg C to a net source of 122 Pg C. In all models, the increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration in the RCP8.5 scenario considerably contributed to carbon accumulation in SOC. However, magnitudes varied from 93 to 264 Pg C by the end of the 21st century across biome models. Using the time-series data of total global SOC simulated by each biome model, we analyzed the sensitivity of the global SOC stock to global mean temperature and global precipitation anomalies (ΔT and ΔP respectively) in each biome model using a state-space model. This analysis suggests that ΔT explained global SOC stock changes in most models with a resolution of 1–2 °C, and the magnitude of global SOC decomposition from a 2 °C rise ranged from almost 0 to 3.53 Pg C yr−1 among the biome models. However, ΔP had a negligible impact on change in the global SOC changes. Spatial heterogeneity was evident and inconsistent among the biome models, especially in boreal to arctic regions. Our study reveals considerable climate uncertainty in SOC decomposition responses to climate and CO2 change among biome models. Further research is required to improve our ability to estimate biospheric feedbacks through both SOC-relevant and vegetation-relevant processes.
Adult obstructive sleep apnoea and the larynx

Purpose of reviewThe review examines current evidence and thinking regarding the relationship between the larynx and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in adults. Recent findingsDrug-induced sleep endoscopy has an emerging role in the identification of laryngeal obstruction associated with sleep apnoea and may be adjunctive to awake dynamic assessment in specific cases. Nocturnal stridor and OSA is a common and treatable finding in patients with multiple system atrophy. Acromegaly can cause OSA by obstruction at the laryngeal level via supraglottic soft tissue hypertrophy or decreased vocal fold mobility. Emerging evidence suggests a relationship between OSA, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and laryngeal sensory dysfunction including chronic cough. The mechanisms remain unclear and warrant further investigation. SummaryThe larynx plays an important role in assessment and treatment of adult sleep apnoea. Laryngeal afferent sensory pathways play a critical role in reflexes controlling airway patency during sleep. Airway obstruction at the laryngeal level should be considered and assessed especially in OSA patients nonresponsive to standard therapies. Isolated laryngeal airway obstruction is rare but identification of specific conditions is important as they are amenable to appropriate treatments. OSA can also affect normal laryngeal function. People with OSA exhibit higher levels of laryngeal inflammation, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and chronic cough. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure has a potential role in improving laryngeal symptomatology in these cases.
Robust Multisecant Quasi-Newton Variants for Parallel Fluid-Structure Simulations - and Other Multiphysics Applications

Multisecant quasi-Newton methods have been shown to be particularly suited to solve nonlinear fixed-point equations that arise from partitioned multiphysics simulations where the exact Jacobian is inaccessible. In all these methods, the underdetermined multisecant equation for the approximate (inverse) Jacobian is enhanced by a norm minimization condition. The standard choice is the minimization of the Frobenius norm of the approximate inverse Jacobian. In this setting, it is well known that transient fluid-structure simulations typically require the use of secant information also from previous time steps to achieve a small enough number of iterations per implicit time step. The number of these time steps highly depends on the application, the physical parameters, the used solvers, and the mesh resolution. Using too few leads to a relatively high number of iterations, while using too many leads not only to a computational overhead but also to an increase in the number of iterations as well. Determining th.
Cellular, and subcellular localization of the mGluR5a metabotropic glutamate receptor in rat spinal cord

THE cellular, and subcellular distribution of the mGluR5a metabotropic glutamate receptor was studied in the spinal cord of the rat using an antibody raised against a mGluR5a-specific carboxy-terminal peptide. Strong mGluR5a-immunoreactivity (mGluR5a-ir) was found in the laminae I-II of the dorsal horn, which gradually decreased towards the deeper layers. At the electron microscopical level, mGluR5a-ir was present exclusively in neuronal somata, and dendrites. Immunometal labelling revealed that mGluR5a-ir is concentrated at the periphery of postsynaptic densities of asymmetrical synapses or localized extrasynaptically at dendritic, and somatic membranes. The mGluR5a-immunoreactive dendritic profiles were often targeted by synaptic boutons with the morphological characteristics of C-fibre terminals. These observations provide evidence for mGluR5a being involved in the nociceptive transmission at the dorsal horn.
α2-Macroglobulin and Haptoglobin Suppress Amyloid Formation by Interacting with Prefibrillar Protein Species*

α2-Macroglobulin (α2M) and haptoglobin (Hp) are both abundant secreted glycoproteins that are best known for their protease trapping and hemoglobin binding activities, respectively. Like the small heat shock proteins, both these glycoproteins have in common the ability to protect a range of proteins from stress-induced amorphous aggregation and have been described as extracellular chaperones. Using an array of biophysical techniques, this study establishes that in vitro at substoichiometric levels and under physiological conditions α2M and Hp both inhibit the formation of amyloid fibrils from a range of proteins. We also provide evidence that both α2M and Hp interact with prefibrillar species to maintain the solubility of amyloidogenic proteins. These findings suggest that both α2M and Hp are likely to play an important role in controlling the inappropriate aggregation of proteins in the extracellular environment.
Evaluation of Stream Control Transmission Protocol as a Transport for VoIP over WLAN

In this article, we intend to present experimental evaluation result on the use of SCTP as a transport for real-time service constrained to voice over IP (VoIP) over wireless LAN (WLAN). Also, from evaluation results gathered from our experiment, we describe on improvised adjustment on how SCTP can be implemented to guarantee its performance to that of UDP under real-time service scenario. Our evaluation results show that use of SCTP over UDP for VoIP performs approximately to that of UDP while preserving the functional advantages of SCTP over UDP which are fast retransmit, congestion control, transport-layer fragmentation, and multihoming.
It Ambidexterity - Conceptualization at the Business Process Level

In todays digitized and globalized economy, companies face increasing competitive pressures and unprecedented speed of change in business conditions. Considering limited IT budgets, process owners and IT departments need to decide how to divide their spending on efficiency-enhancing and flexibility-enhancing IT capabilities to optimally support their business processes. Turning from thinking of efficiency and flexibility as trade-off towards ambidexterity puts focus on simultaneously pursuing efficiency through exploitative and flexibility through explorative business process IT (BPIT) capabilities. While these capabilities have been analysed in combination at the organizational level and independently at the business process-level, there is scarce research on the combined effects of those activities for a particular business process. This research paper presents conceptualization and operationalization of ambidextrous IT capabilities at the business process level. In addition, further concepts that are relevant for analysis of BPIT ambidexterity, such as business process performance, operational ambidexterity and business process uncertainty are adapted to the process level. Thus, we intend to contribute to the area of business process management (BPM) and research on ambidexterity in IS through the expansion of existing work by providing constructs and scales for further research on these phenomena at the business process level.
Radiolabeled annexin V imaging: diagnosis of allograft rejection in an experimental rodent model of liver transplantation.

PURPOSE To assess the value of imaging rejection-induced apoptosis with technetium 99m and annexin V, a human protein-based radiopharmaceutical used in the diagnosis of acute rejection of a liver transplant, in a well-characterized rodent model of orthotopic liver transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS 99mTc-radiolabeled annexin V was intravenously administered to six allografted (immunologically mismatched) and five isografted (immunologically matched) recipient rats on days 2, 4, and 7 after orthotopic liver transplantation. Animals were imaged 1 hour after injection of 0.2-2.0 mCi (8.0-74.0 MBq) of radiolabeled annexin V by use of clinical nuclear scintigraphic equipment. RESULTS All animals in the allografted group demonstrated marked increases of 55% and 97% above the activity in the isografted group in hepatic uptake of annexin V on days 4 and 7, respectively. Severe acute rejection was histologically detected in all allografted livers on day 7. There was no histologic evidence of acute rejection in isografted animals. Dynamic hepatobiliary imaging with 99mTc and mebrofenin, an iminodiacetic acid derivative, demonstrated no correlation with the presence or absence of acute rejection or with annexin V uptake. CONCLUSION Noninvasive imaging with radiolabeled annexin V is more sensitive and specific than imaging with 99mTc-mebrofenin in the diagnosis of acute rejection of a liver transplant.
Theoretical performance of space-time block coded systems with channel estimation

Orthogonal space-time block codes utilize transmit diversity and allow the receiver to have a simple maximum-likelihood decoder. Normally, channel state information is not readily available at the receiver. Hence, channel estimation is necessary for coherent detection. We present analytical bit error rate (BER) expressions as well as the tight Chernoff bound for orthogonal space-time block coded systems employing M-PSK modulation. The results show directly the BER dependence on the transmit diversity and the mean square error of the channel estimator. Simulation results show the accuracy of our BER predictions.
Enterprise Architecture management in Virtual Organization

Concept of Virtual Organization (VO) is one enabling factor for today's Small and Mid sized Enterprises (SME) to rebuild their position in new market condition. As the businesses are highly supported by Information and Communication Technology (ICT), nowadays it is highly important to manage it in a way that will minimize the possibility that ICT will be the bottleneck which makes constraints for new cooperation. In current article, the approach of Enterprise Architecture management is analyzed in context of VO-s.