Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic and Phenotypic Overlap between Autophagy and the Cytoplasm to Vacuole Protein Targeting Pathway*

We have explored the phenotypic and genetic overlap between autophagocytosis and cytoplasm to vacuole targeting in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Complementation analysis was performed with mutants in each of these groups (aut and cvt, respectively), and three complementation groups were found to overlap. Also, most of the unique aut mutants accumulated precursor aminopeptidase I in the cytoplasm, while maintaining wild type kinetics and maturation of proteins targeted to the vacuole via the secretory pathway. The majority of the non-overlapping cvt mutants were found to be at least partially defective in autophagy. Some mutants in each group, however, appear to be only marginally affected in the other phenotype, implying that these pathways only partially overlap. We propose that import of aminopeptidase I into the vacuole shares a number of components required for bulk autophagocytosis, but is made specific, saturable, and constitutive by the presence of a receptor or other interacting protein(s).
Effect of dietary inclusion of spray-dried porcine plasma on performance, some physiological and immunological response of broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella sofia.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) in broiler chickens under Salmonella sofia disease challenge. The experiment comprised five starter diets: positive control (no supplement), diet supplemented with in-feed antibiotics (IFA; salinomycin 0.05% + zinc bacitracin 0.033%) and diets supplemented with SDPP at 10 or 20 g/kg diet. All four of these groups were challenged with S. sofia, while a fifth group was unchallenged and used as the negative control. The experimental diets were fed to 14 days; then, the birds were switched to commercial-type grower and finisher diets. Oral inoculation of the challenged groups with S. sofia occurred on day 8, 10 and 12. Body weight was significantly higher in the birds fed diets containing IFA and SDPP than in the challenged control group, but it was only significant in starter and grower phases. In general, there was an improvement in the weights of the immune-related organs, but it was only significant for the weight of the bursa of SDPP-fed birds at 13 days. At day 13, blood potassium content was lower and the concentrations of IgG and IgM tended to be lower in the birds fed on low-SDPP starter diets than those of the other groups. There were significant differences in the concentration of lactic acid in the ileum and acetic acid, formic acid, butyric acid and propionic acid in the caeca. Inclusion of SDPP to the starter diets of broiler chicks had positive effects on broiler performance, immunity and gut health during exposure to highly pathogenic conditions.
Suppression of yeast RNA polymerase III mutations by FHL1, a gene coding for a fork head protein involved in rRNA processing

The FHL1 gene was isolated by screening for high-copy-number suppressors of conditional RNA polymerase III mutations. This gene is unique on the yeast genome and was located close to RPC40 and PRE2 on the right arm of chromosome XVI. It codes for a 936-amino-acid protein containing a domain similar to the fork head DNA-binding domain, initially found in the developmental fork head protein of Drosophila melanogaster and in the HNF-3 family of hepatocyte mammalian transcription factors. Null mutations caused a severe reduction in growth rate and a lower rRNA content that resulted from defective rRNA processing. There was no detectable effect on mRNA splicing. Thus, the Fhl1p protein plays a key role in the control of rRNA processing, presumably by acting as a transcriptional regulator of genes specifically involved in that process. Moreover, mutants carrying the RNA polymerase III mutations were slightly defective in rRNA processing. This accounts for the isolation of FHL1 as a dosage-dependent suppressor and suggests that rRNA processing depends on a still-unidentified RNA polymerase III transcript.
HMG20A and HMG20B map to human chromosomes 15q24 and 19p13.3 and constitute a distinct class of HMG-box genes with ubiquitous expression

The HMG box encodes a conserved DNA binding domain found in many proteins and is involved in the regulation of transcription and chromatin conformation. We describe HMG20A and HMG20B, two novel human HMG box-containing genes, discovered within the EURO-IMAGE Consortium full-length cDNA sequencing initiative. The predicted proteins encoded by these two genes are 48.4% identical (73.9% within the HMG domain). The HMG domain of both HMG20 proteins is most similar to that of yeast NHP6A (38% to 42%). Outside of this domain, HMG20 proteins lack any significant homology to other known proteins. We determined the genomic structure and expression pattern of HMG20A and HMG20B. Both genes have several alternative transcripts, expressed almost ubiquitously. HMG20A maps to chromosome 15q24 (near D15S1227) and HMG20B to 19p13.3 (between D19S209 and D19S216). The HMG20 genes define a distinct class of mammalian HMG box genes.
‘Staying Alive’: The Impact of ‘Austerity Cuts’ on the LGBT Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in England and Wales

This report was commissioned by the Trades Union Congress to examine the impact of ‘austerity cuts’ on the LGBT voluntary and community sector (VCS) in England and Wales. The research was delivered in collaboration with centred and the Consortium of LGBT Voluntary and Community Organisations . The research focused on the perceptions and experiences of people working in the LGBT VCS and may usefully be read in tandem with the report by NatCen Social Research, funded by UNISON (2013) which focused on the ways in which recent austerity measures have affected LGBT people as service users and providers in the UK .
Complete genome sequence of Pirellula staleyi type strain (ATCC 27377T)

Pirellula staleyi Schlesner and Hirsch 1987 is the type species of the genus Pirellula of the family Planctomycetaceae. Members of this pear- or teardrop-shaped bacterium show a clearly visible pointed attachment pole and can be distinguished from other Planctomycetes by a lack of true stalks. Strains closely related to the species have been isolated from fresh and brackish water, as well as from hypersaline lakes. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. This is the first completed genome sequence of the order Planctomyces and only the second sequence from the phylum Planctomycetes. The 6,196,199 bp long genome with its 4773 protein-coding and 49 RNA genes is a part of the GenomicEncyclopedia ofBacteria andArchaea project.
Double‐stranded RNA‐activated protein kinase inhibits hepatitis C virus replication but may be not essential in interferon treatment

Background: Double‐stranded RNA‐activated protein kinase (PKR), an interferon (IFN)‐stimulated gene, is activated by binding with double‐stranded RNA, a putative replicative intermediate of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Activated PKR phosphorylates the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor‐2 to inhibit the translation of viral protein.
On the joint analysis of the total discounted payments to policyholders and shareholders: threshold dividend strategy

Abstract In insurance risk theory, dividend and aggregate claim amount are of great research interest as they represent the insurance company’s payments to its shareholders and policyholders, respectively. Since the analyses of these two quantities are performed separately in the literature, the companion paper by Cheung et al. generalised the Gerber–Shiu expected discounted penalty function by further incorporating the moments of the aggregate discounted claims until ruin and the discounted dividends until ruin. While Cheung et al. considered the compound Poisson model with a dividend barrier in which ruin occurs almost surely, the present paper looks at this generalised Gerber–Shiu function under a threshold dividend strategy where the insurer has a positive survival probability. Because the Gerber–Shiu function is only defined for sample paths leading to ruin, we will additionally study the joint moments of the aggregate discounted claims and the discounted dividends without ruin occurring. Some explicit formulas are derived when the individual claim distribution follows a combination of exponentials. Numerical illustrations involving the correlation between aggregate discounted claims and discounted dividends are given. For the case where ruin occurs, we additionally compute the correlations between the time of ruin and the above two quantities.
Performance evaluation of Sigma Delta Zero Crossing DPLL

The objective of this work is to evaluate the performance of the Sigma — Delta first order Zero Crossing Digital Phase Locked Loop (SD-ZCDPLL) and compared with the conventional ZCDPLL in the absence and presence of noise. A one bit sigma-delta modulator is used as a part of the proposed structure. The analysis and evaluation of the proposed SD-ZCDPLL has shown to give improvement in the locking range and loop jitter when compared to the conventional ZCDPLL. The Digital Controlled Oscillator (DCO) of the proposed SD-ZCDPLL is controlled based on the input frequency deviation of the input signal. For fine tuning, the DCO is controlled through the standard tracking process of the conventional ZCDPLL. While for coarse tuning, the one bit Sigma-Delta modulator path is activated through a Finite State Machine (FSM) to control the DCO. Through this dual tuning process, the SD-ZCDPLL performance has been improved.
UVA-light and Riboflavin-mediated Corneal Collagen Cross-linking

Keratoconus and other corneal conditions associated with progressive stromal thinning including keratectasia after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and pellucid marginal degeneration represent therapeutic challenges. Until recently, available therapies including contact lenses, epikeratoplasty, intrastromal corneal rings, and corneal transplantation targeted, in principle, the abnormal shape of the cornea by mechanical means. The underlying molecular pathogenic mechanisms of corneal ectasia were not addressed with any of these therapies until the introduction of corneal collagen cross-linking to clinical practice in 1999.1 This breakthrough clinical application was the result of multiple laboratory observations and discoveries made over preceding decades. Early experiments of Cannon and Foster2 showed that degraded normal collagen or synthesis of abnormal collagen might play a role in the pathogenesis of keratoconus. This concept was later confirmed by subsequent clinical and experimental studies. Keratoconus was characterized by progressive stromal thinning and ectasia3 as a result of increased expression of lysosomal and proteolytic enzymes4–7 and decreased concentration of protease inhibitors,5,8 which result in corneal thinning and altered configuration of corneal collagen lamellae.9,10
Determination of the causes of the construction delay in higher learning institutions in Malaysia using the rasch model analysis

The development of an infrastructure requires a planned and effective construction management including the construction of the university. To obtain a good ranking, the universities should provide comprehensive physical facilities and infrastructure. This study is to investigate the construction process to know the causes behind the delay process in constructing the high education facilities in the Malaysian universities. The Rasch model technique is applied to analyse the results, and the sample of this study included 100 respondents where the majority are managers and owners of the construction of the high learning institutions. The delay causes are grouped into three factors, there are input factor, internal factor and exogenous factor. It is revealed that internal factors were the most factors that contribute in delay construction process, the factors as follows: poor monitoring by the contractor, lack of consultants experience, changes in design, too many variation orders by owner, delay in making decisions by project owner. [N.M Tawil, M. A. Khoiry, N. Hamzah, W.H. W. Badaruzzaman, I. Arshad, A.A. Azrillah and N.B. Idris. Determination of the causes of the Construction Delay in Higher Learning Institutions in Malaysia Using The Rasch Model Analysis. Life Sci J 2014;11(7):308-316]. (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite. com. 36
An in-depth exploration of residents’ perceived impacts of transient vacation rentals

ABSTRACT The recent explosion of transient vacation rental (TVR) accommodations has been aided by websites like AirBnB, Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO), and HomeAway and this segment continues to grow in popularity. Many communities have enacted bans on TVRs with little empirical data to support decisions. This study explores TVR-related impacts as perceived by residents, and why those particular impacts are perceived. A series of 12 semi-structured, in-depth interviews of key resident stakeholders on Oahu, Hawai’i, United States (US) were conducted. Thematic analysis revealed residents perceived both positive and negative impacts in the economic, environmental, and sociocultural realms. Extended quotes from interviewees reveal the connection of perceived impacts to the presence of TVRs in residential zoned areas and the lack of a proprietor to manage the property and tourists like a traditional bed and breakfast (B&B). Findings provide a baseline for future research examining the unique impacts of this area of rapid tourism growth. Marketing implications are discussed.
The Automotive Value Chain in Thailand

A country's participation in global value chains (GVCs) is increasingly becoming important as a strategy for economic development. However, participation in GVCs alone is not sufficient. Industrial deepening - or the formation of backward linkages by creating robust supplier bases - is necessary to sustain economic growth. This paper explores how the automotive value chain has evolved in Thailand since the 1990s. Trade in value-added analysis is applied to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's Inter-Country Input-Output data. Moreover, the concept of value chain mapping is introduced to illustrate upstream and downstream transactions of goods and services along the value chain. Results show that international linkages were strengthened because of the expanding production networks in Southeast Asia. On the other hand, domestic linkages and domestic content started to decline after a certain point. These results suggest that the benefits of specialisation and exchange have outweighed those of agglomeration in recent decades.
Implied Remaining Variance with Application to Bachelier Model

In this article, we propose a way to model vanilla options implied volatility curve in closed form under the Brownian motion assumption for underlying asset. The work is an extension of the recent article by Carr and Sun [2013]. Using Brownian motion to model the financial assets was first proposed by Bachelier one century ago. Even though in the option pricing world, the usual setting is geometric Brownian motion, which guarantees the positiveness of the underlying price, it is becoming common to use the Brownian motion in some other situations as well, in particular for interest rate derivatives due to the environments of super low or even negative rates in JPY, EUR, and USD currencies. We will use our model to calibrate the implied normal volatilities in the swaption market. Calibration results show that the model proposed in this article works very well. Furthermore we will prove that, under certain conditions, our model could be free of arbitrage. The proofs of the main results are left in the appendix.
Symmetry, sexual dimorphism in facial proportions and male facial attractiveness

Facial symmetry has been proposed as a marker of developmental stability that may be important in human mate choice. Several studies have demonstrated positive relationships between facial symmetry and attractiveness. It was recently proposed that symmetry is not a primary cue to facial attractiveness, as symmetrical faces remain attractive even when presented as half faces (with no cues to symmetry). Facial sexual dimorphisms (‘masculinity’) have been suggested as a possible cue that may covary with symmetry in men following data on trait size/symmetry relationships in other species. Here, we use real and computer graphic male faces in order to demonstrate that (i) symmetric faces are more attractive, but not reliably more masculine than less symmetric faces and (ii) that symmetric faces possess characteristics that are attractive independent of symmetry, but that these characteristics remain at present undefined.
Implications of tobacco smoking on the oral health of older adults

Cigarette smoking is the foremost health risk issue affecting individuals of all age groups globally. It specifically influences the geriatric population as a result of chronic exposure to toxins. Its role in various systemic and oral diseases including cancer, premalignant lesions, periodontitis, tooth loss, dental caries and implant failures is well established. Smoking causes immuno‐inflammatory imbalances resulting in increased oxidative stress in the body. The latter hastens the immunosenescence and inflammaging process, which increases the susceptibility to infections. Thus, implementation of smoking cessation programs among older adults is imperative to prevent the development and progression of oral and systemic diseases. The present review focuses on smoking‐associated oral health problems in older adults, and the steps required for cessation of the habit. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 526–540.
Bioinspired methodology for preparing magnetic responsive chitosan beads to be integrated in a tubular bioreactor for biomedical applications

Magnetic responsive chitosan beads were prepared using a methodology inspired by the rolling of water droplets over lotus leaves. Liquid precursors containing chitosan and magnetic microparticles were dispensed in the form of spherical droplets and crosslinked with genipin over synthetic superhydrophobic surfaces. Scanning electronic microscopy, histology and micro-computed tomography were employed to characterize the structure of the prepared composite beads and the inner distribution of the magnetic particles. Cellular metabolic activity tests showed that fibroblasts-like (L929 cell line) can adhere and proliferate on the prepared chitosan beads. We hypothesize that such spherical biomaterials could be integrated in a new concept of tubular bioreactor. The magnetic beads can be immobilized by an external magnetic field at specific positions and may be transported along the bioreactor by the drag of the culture medium flow. The system behavior was also studied through numerical modeling, which allowed to identify the relative importance of the main parameters, and to conclude that the distance between carrier beads plays a major role on their interaction with the culture medium and, consequently, on the overall system performance. In an up-scaled version of this bioreactor, the herein presented system may comprise different chambers in serial or parallel configurations. This constitutes a simple way of preparing magnetic responsive beads combined with a new design of bioreactor, which may find application in biomedicine and biotechnology, including in cell expansion for tissue engineering or for the production of therapeutic proteins to be used in cell therapies.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Bicuspid Aortic Stenosis Using Lotus Valve System

Bicuspid aortic stenosis (BAS) has been excluded in clinical trials on transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) due to the presumed uneven expansion of the aortic prosthesis, leading to significant paravalvular regurgitation (PVR). There is no transcatheter heart valve (THV) commercially approved for treating BAS. The Lotus Valve System mitigates PVR by possessing an adaptive seal and being fully re‐positionable. The latter is also important in preventing embolization, as the location of prosthesis fixation in BAS could be variable due to the presence of less expandable raphe. We report our early experience with the Lotus Valve System in three consecutive TAVR for BAS. They all provide good clinical and hemodynamic results without significant PVR. We conclude that the use of Lotus Valve System for treating BAS is feasible and safe, and may have advantages over the previous generation TAVR systems. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Field-aligned online surface reconstruction

Today's 3D scanning pipelines can be classified into two overarching categories: offline, high accuracy methods that rely on global optimization to reconstruct complex scenes with hundreds of millions of samples, and online methods that produce real-time but low-quality output, usually from structure-from-motion or depth sensors. The method proposed in this paper is the first to combine the benefits of both approaches, supporting online reconstruction of scenes with hundreds of millions of samples from high-resolution sensing modalities such as structured light or laser scanners. The key property of our algorithm is that it sidesteps the signed-distance computation of classical reconstruction techniques in favor of direct filtering, parametrization, and mesh and texture extraction. All of these steps can be realized using only weak notions of spatial neighborhoods, which allows for an implementation that scales approximately linearly with the size of each dataset that is integrated into a partial reconstruction. Combined, these algorithmic differences enable a drastically more efficient output-driven interactive scanning and reconstruction workflow, where the user is able to see the final quality field-aligned textured mesh during the entirety of the scanning procedure. Holes or parts with registration problems are displayed in real-time to the user and can be easily resolved by adding further localized scans, or by adjusting the input point cloud using our interactive editing tools with immediate visual feedback on the output mesh. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm in conjunction with a state-of-the-art structured light scanner and optical tracking system and test it on a large variety of challenging models.
Service Orchestration in Fog Environments

A new era of automated services has permeated user's daily lives thanks to paradigms such as Smart City and the Internet of Things. This shift from traditional applications is possible due to the massive amount of heterogeneous devices that constitute the Internet of Things. To provide newly improved characteristics to these services, such as mobility support, high resilience, and low latency, an extension to the Cloud computing paradigm was created, called Fog computing, which brings processing and storage resources towards the edge of the network, in the vicinity of the Internet of Things environment. This scenario implies a higher complexity level needed to coordinate available resources and how applications and services use them. Although some solutions have been proposed for the Cloud, several characteristics differentiate the Cloud from the Fog, creating the need for new mechanisms for the coordination of resources, applications, and services in the Fog. This paper explains the challenges present in the Fog that call for new mechanisms to later propose an architecture to manage resources in the Fog using a hybrid approach. In the Internet of Things and South-Bound Fog Levels, a distributed management of applications and services is proposed applying choreography techniques to enable automated fast decision making. A centralized approach to orchestrate applications and services taking advantage of a global knowledge of the resources available in the network is suggested for the North-Bound Fog and Cloud Levels.