Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microsatellite size homoplasies and null alleles do not affect species diagnosis and population genetic analysis in a fungal species complex

The suitability of 13 microsatellite loci for species diagnosis and population genetics in 11 species of the Phialocephala fortinii s.l. –Acephala applanata species complex (PAC) was assessed. Two data sets were compared to test possible biases in species typing and clone detection resulting from null alleles and size homoplasies. The first data set was based on fragment lengths derived from a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and the second data set was received from singleplex PCR at lower stringency and sequencing. Most null alleles observed in the multiplex PCR assay could be amplified during singleplex PCR under less stringent conditions. Size homoplasies resulting from mutations in flanking regions and differences in microsatellite structures were observed. For example, Phialocephala uotolensis possessed a (CT)13 in addition to the (GT)x motif at locus mPF_0644. Despite the occurrence of null alleles and size homoplasies, species diagnosis and population genetic analysis studies were not affected. These markers will facilitate studies on population biology, ecology and biogeography of PAC species.
Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus Infects Cells of the Developing Hair Follicle after Neonatal Subcutaneous Inoculation in Mice

ABSTRACT The nature of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) infection after a subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation was studied. We have previously shown that an enhancer variant of M-MuLV, Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV, is poorly leukemogenic when used to inoculate mice s.c. , but not when inoculated intraperitoneally. This attenuation of leukemogenesis correlated with an inability of Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV to establish infection in the bone marrow of mice at early times postinfection. These results suggested that a cell type(s) is infected in the skin by wild-type but not Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV after s.c. inoculation and that this infection is important for the delivery of infection to the bone marrow, as well as for efficient leukemogenesis. To determine the nature of the cell types infected by M-MuLV and Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV in the skin after a s.c. inoculation, immunohistochemistry with an anti-M-MuLV CA antibody was performed. Cells of developing hair follicles, specifically cells of the outer root sheath (ORS), were extensively infected by M-MuLV after s.c. inoculation. The Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV variant also infected cells of the ORS but the level of infection was lower. By Western blot analysis, the level of infection in skin by Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV was approximately 4- to 10-fold less than that of wild-type M-MuLV. Similar results were seen when a mouse keratinocyte line was infected in vitro with both viruses. Cells of the ORS are a primary target of infection in vivo, since a replication defective M-MuLV-based vector expressing β-galactosidase also infected these cells after a s.c. inoculation.
Fluorescent Screening of Transgenic Arabidopsis Seeds without Germination1

In this paper, we describe a reliable method for the screening and selection of Arabidopsis transgenic seeds within minutes without germination. Expression of the Aspergillus niger β-glucosidase gene BGL1 in the plant's endoplasmic reticulum was used as a visual marker, together with 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (MUGluc) as a substrate. Subsequent to incubation in a solution of MUGluc at room temperature for 2 to 15 min, transgenic seeds expressing BGL1 demonstrated a distinct fluorescent signal under UV light. Optimal screening conditions at room temperature were achieved between 75 and 450 μm MUGluc, at a pH of 2.5 to 5.0 and 2 to 5 min of incubation. No significant loss of viability was detected in transgenic seeds that were redried and stored for 45 d after incubation in MUGluc solution for 2 to 150 min. Transgenic plants expressing BGL1 displayed normal phenotypes relative to the wild type. Selection frequency was 3.1% ± 0.34% for the fluorescence selection method, while kanamycin resistant selection resulted in only 0.56% ± 0.13% using the same seed batch. This novel selection method is nondestructive, practical, and efficient, and eliminates the use of antibiotic genes. In addition, the procedure shortens the selection time from weeks to minutes.
A Simple High-Performance Exploding Wire Opening Switch

Autonomous pulsed-power sources for radiation generators often require a compact high-performance opening switch. As this is frequently expendable, due to the use of an explosively driven power supply, a simple arrangement for the opening switch is clearly a target. The paper details a high-performance exploding-wire opening switch that is capable of generating voltages up to about 0.25 MV, and which does not require any special features such as a pressurised gas supply or the tedious mounting of a very large number of thin wires. The results of experiments in which the switch is used as a component of a conditioning circuit will be presented and discussed.
Elevated expression of calcium‐binding protein p9Ka is associated with increasing malignant characteristics of rat prostate carcinoma cells

Northern and Western blotting techniques were used to study expression of the mRNA and corresponding protein product of the S100‐related calcium‐binding molecule p9Ka in 6 different metastatic cell lines of the Dunning R3327 rat prostate cancer model. In cells with the lowest metastatic capability (G cells), p9Ka mRNA was barely detectable. In 2 weakly metastatic cell lines (AT‐1 and AT‐2), p9Ka transcript amounts were, respectively, 6.29 ± 0.74 and 5.55 ± 1.11 times that detected in the G cells. In 3 highly metastatic cell lines (AT‐3, MAT‐LyLu and MAT‐Lu), the amounts of p9Ka mRNA were, respectively, 12.85 ± 2.82, 13.06 ± 1.69 and 11.62 ± 1.81 times that expressed in the G cells. Western blot analyses detected no p9Ka protein in the G cells. The amounts of p9Ka protein expressed by tumour cells of intermediate metastatic capability (AT‐1 and AT‐2) were 3.4 ± 1.3 μg and 3.3 ± 1.4 μg, respectively, per 1 × 106 cells. The amounts of p9Ka protein expressed by the tumour cells of highest metastatic capability (AT‐3, MAT‐LyLu and MAT‐Lu) were 8.3 ± 1.1 μg, 8.7 ± 1.6 μg and 9.6 ± 1.7 μg, respectively, per 1 × 106 cells. Our data reveal a direct association between the elevated expression of mRNA and the p9Ka protein amounts and the increased metastatic capability of individual prostatic cancer cell lines. We suggest that calcium‐binding protein p9Ka may play an important role in the metastatic behaviour of rat prostate cancer. Int. J. Cancer 71: 832‐837, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss Inc.
Technical Considerations on Power Conversion for Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Battery Charging in Photovoltaic Installations

It is now clear that the transportation sector will increasingly rely on electricity and the related infrastructure needed for storage and distribution. At the same time, the source of electricity itself must not be carbon based. Rather, whenever possible, it should depend on environmentally responsible processes. In addition to their ecological benefits, aeolic and photovoltaic (PV) sources are highly scalable, and can be utilized for local generation and delivery, eliminating those energy losses normally associated with long-range grid distribution. This paper analyzes one specific type of renewable, local energy generation, applied to electric vehicle charging requirements. A PV source is explicitly posited, because solar panels can be placed above the vehicle parking space, and double as a shade provider. In the first part of this paper, the optimal requirements for overall system are derived. These will be used in the second part, in order to compare alternate power conditioning circuits for this task.
Technologies for 5G Networks: Challenges and Opportunities

Mobile data traffic has grown substantially owing to the widespread use of data-hungry devices such as smart handsets and laptops. This has encouraged researchers and system designers to develop more efficient network designs. The authors review the technologies that can support speeds of multiple Gbps for future fifth-generation (5G) networks. They examine the many challenges, problems, and questions that arise in the research and design stage, and conclude that the anticipated high-traffic demands and low-latency requirements stemming from the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications can be met only with radical changes to the network paradigm. These include harnessing the millimeter-wave band for the dense deployment of small cells. Future wireless systems will include myriad smart features and applications to make 5G the most intelligent and dominant wireless technology thus far.
The Role of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in the Management of the Post-Embolization Symptoms after Uterine Artery Embolization

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is usually a very painful procedure. Although pain after the procedure can occur as a single symptom, it usually is associated with other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, pelvic pain, general malaise, fever and leukocytosis that characterize the post-embolization syndrome. Management of the post-embolization symptoms and of pain in particular, is paramount if UAE is to be performed as an outpatient procedure. Different protocols have used analgesic and/or anti-inflammatory agents to control these symptoms. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently used in association with analgesic drugs to control post-embolization symptoms. In our institution the patients start oral medication with NSAIDs the day before the procedure and continue it during and after UAE. We also mix NSAIDs with the embolizing particles. This enables a reduction in the inflammation present in the uterine fibroids and helps controlling the pain. The purpose of this paper is to review the importance of NSAIDs in the management of the post-embolization symptoms. We describe the protocol that we use in our institution that enables us to perform the procedure on an outpatient basis with same day discharge and good control of the post-embolization symptoms with oral NSAIDs and analgesics.
Mini U Brochures: Advertising Social Exclusion at a Post-secondary Institution, Canada?

The purpose of this research is to analyze visuals and texts from the three 2015 and 2016 Mini U (sport, recreation, and academic programs for young people) brochures at a post-secondary institution, Canada. Semiotics of the brochures is analyzed first and content analysis follows. The findings of this study are: (1) an overall impression of visuals from the brochures appears a dominant imagery of whiteness; (2) the techniques for taking pictures (e.g., size, clarity, colour, lay out, and representation of certain images) in the brochures make White figures more visible than non-White figures; (3) 87%, 88%, and 89% of figures of children and youth are White, and 87%, 94%, and 100% of the Mini U program leaders are White; (4) the offered Mini U programs tend to be designed for White-centred programs (e.g., hockey, ice programs); and (5) the images of whiteness in the brochures seemly reflect institutional social exclusion and racism on Canadian campus. A socially just and sustainable campus can be possible by changing the publication practice of Mini U brochures as a small step. Key words: racism, whiteness, exclusion, higher education, visuals, multiculturalism, sustainable diversity
Uncertainty in education: The role of communities and social learning

Race is not the only way in which individuals are segregated. College graduates are also likely to live in different neighborhoods than non-college graduates. I call this form of segregation skill segregation. Exploring the data patterns in US cities, I find that the average non-college graduate lives in a neighborhood where only 19% of its residents are college graduates. More importantly, cities with higher levels of skill segregation seem to have higher high school dropout rates. I focus on the role of information constraints at the neighborhood level as a novel explanation for this pattern. I write a model of educational choice with two key features: (i) individuals are uncertain about schooling returns, and (ii) learning happens at the local level: they learn about the schooling returns by observing nearby skilled neighbors. If you take prior models of local interactions, you would think that more skilled neighbors would mean more schooling investment. In contrast, under information frictions and social learning, it is not only about being around skilled neighbors, but is also about their wage distribution: skilled neighbors only increase schooling investment if the labor market information they disclose leads to an increase in the perceived college premium. Using school-district data from Michigan over the period 2008-2013, I find evidence suporting the model’s prediction: a higher share of college graduates living in the school district only increases college enrollment of high school graduates if the median earnings ofthese college graduates is sufficiently high.
Cell Cycle Genes PEDF and CDKN1C in Growing Deer Antlers

Deer antlers are the only mammalian appendage to display an annual cycle of full regeneration. The growth phase in antler involves the rapid proliferation of several tissues types, including epidermis, dermis, cartilage, bone, blood vessels, and nerves. Antlers thus provide an excellent model to study the developmental regulation of these tissues. We describe here the identification of two genes, pigment epithelium‐derived factor (PEDF) and cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 1C (CDKN1C), both of which are known to be involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. These genes were identified as the result of screening an expressed sequence tag database derived from a cDNA library enriched for sequences from the growing antler tip. PEDF mRNA was detected in developing skin, cartilage, and bone during endochondral ossification. PEDF mRNA was not detected within endothelial cells that exhibited positive immunoreactivity to a CD146 antibody. CDKN1C mRNA was expressed by only the immature chondrocytes within the precartilage region. These results suggested that PEDF and CDKN1C are important genes involved in cell proliferation and differentiation during antler growth. Anat Rec, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The G1 phase E3 ubiquitin ligase TRUSS that gets deregulated in human cancers is a novel substrate of the S-phase E3 ubiquitin ligase Skp2

E3 ubiquitin ligases have been implicated in the ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation of several key regulators of cell cycle. Owing to their pleotropic behavior, E3 ubiquitin ligases are tightly regulated both at transcriptional and post-translational levels. The E3 ubiquitin ligase TRUSS (tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated ubiquitous scaffolding and signaling protein) which negatively regulates c-Myc, are found down-regulated in most human cancer cell lines. However, the mechanism of regulation of intracellular levels of TRUSS remains elusive. Here we show that TRUSS is expressed majorly during the G1 phase of cell cycle and its level starts to decline with the expression of S-phase specific E3 ligase Skp2. Enforced expression of Skp2 led to a marked increase in the ubiquitination of TRUSS after its phosphorylation by GSK3β and followed by rapid proteolytic degradation. Our co-immunoprecipitation studies suggested a direct interaction between Skp2 and TRUSS through the LRR motif of Skp2. Interestingly, the human tumor samples that exhibited elevated expression of Skp2, showed relatively poor expression of TRUSS. Further, enforced expression of HBx, the oncoprotein of Hepatitis B virus which is known to stabilize c-Myc and enhance its oncogenic potential, led to the intracellular accumulation of TRUSS as well as c-Myc. Apparently, HBx also interacted with TRUSS which negatively impacted the TRUSS-c-Myc and TRUSS-Skp2 interactions leading to stabilization of TRUSS. Thus, the present study suggests that TRUSS is a novel substrate of E3 ligase Skp2 and that disruption of TRUSS-Skp2 interaction by viral oncoproteins could lead to pathophysiological sequelae.
Restarting after business discontinuity among bumiputra small and medium enterprises

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) entrepreneurial activities are critical to nation’s economic development and wealth creation. The governments provide both financial and non-financial assistances to support the development of these firms. Despite the government assistance, SMEs experience business discontinuity at the early stage of the firm development and unable to bounce back. Research on restarting after business discontinuity among SMEs is vital to enrich the existing literature in regards to firms’ learning and survival ability, and improving their current strategy to compete and sustain in the market. The objective of this study is to identify the factors that contribute to restarting after business discontinuity among Bumiputra Small and Medium Enterprises. This study utilized the case study methodology and selected Bumiputra firms under Majlis Amanah Rakyat as the research setting. The study found that five factors, including personality, environment, internal factor, resilience, and spiritual belief contributed to restarting after business discontinuity among Bumiputra SMEs. These findings broaden the theory of firm failure in entrepreneurship studies and their relations to firm learning. These insights are useful for both entrepreneurs of new firms and policy makers to improve entrepreneurial learning in supporting firms’ survival.
Electric field stimulation through a substrate influences Schwann cell and extracellular matrix structure

Objective. Electric field (EF) stimulation has been used to cue cell growth for tissue engineering applications. In this study, we explore the electrical parameters and extracellular mechanisms that elicit changes in cell behavior when stimulated through the substrate. Approach. Rat Schwann cell morphology was compared when exposed to EF through the media or a conductive indium tin oxide substrate. Ionic and structural effects were then analyzed on Matrigel and collagen I, respectively. Main results. When stimulating through media, cells had greater alignment perpendicular to the EF with higher current densities (106 mA cm−2 at 245 mV mm−1), and reached maximum alignment within 8 h. Stimulation through the substrate with EF (up to 110 mV mm−1) did not affect Schwann cell orientation, however the EF caused extracellular matrix (ECM) coatings on substrates to peel away, suggesting EF can physically change the ECM. Applying alternating current (ac) 2–1000 Hz signals through the media or substrate both caused cells to flatten and protrude many processes, without preferential alignment. Matrigel exposed to a substrate EF of 10 mV mm−1 for 2 h had a greater calcium concentration near the cathode, but quickly dissipated when the EF was removed. Schwann cells seeded 7 d after gels were exposed to substrate EF still aligned perpendicular to the EF direction. Microscopy of collagen I exposed to substrate EF shows alignment and bundling of fibrils. Significance. These findings demonstrate EF exposure can control Schwann cell alignment and morphology, change ECM bulk/surface architecture, and align ECM structures.
Pilus biogenesis and epithelial cell adherence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae pilC double knock‐out mutants

The phase‐variable PilC proteins of pathogenic Neisseria species have recently been implicated in both assembly and cellular adherence functions of the type 4 pili of these pathogens. We describe here the cloning of full‐length pilC1 and pilC2 genes and the complete sequencing of the pilC2 gene of Neisseria gonorrhoeae MS11. Sequential inactivation of both genes by gene replacement in piliated (P+) variants of N. gonorrhoeae MS11 led initially to a non‐piliated (P−) phenotype; however, spontaneous P+ variants could be derived from some pilC1,2 double mutants which produced morphologically intact pili. Purified pili from pilC1,2 mutants revealed no detectable PilC protein. Instead, a novel protein about 70 kDa in size appeared in the pili preparations of P+ mutants; this protein exhibited no immunological cross‐reactivity with PilC1 or PilC2. We propose that this novel factor replaces the function of PilC in pilus biogenesis. Using isogenic N. gonorrhoeae strains which produce identical PilE (pilin) proteins we demonstrate that pili associated with the 70 kDa protein do not confer gonococcal adherence to human epithelial cells, in contrast to pili assembled in the presence of PilC1 or PilC2.
A new system splitting scheme based on the identification of controlling group

In this paper, a new system splitting scheme based on the identification of controlling group is presented. Compared with the conventional coherent splitting scheme, the new method is much more effective under complicated oscillation scenarios. The controlling group can not only provide sufficient information for the splitting surface determination, but also be used to combine the system splitting with other emergency control methods to form a unified transient stability control framework. Related algorithms are described in detail in the paper. The advantages and effectiveness of the new scheme can be justified through the testing cases
Constraints on modified gravity from Planck 2015: when the health of your theory makes the difference

We use the effective field theory of dark energy (EFT of DE) formalism to constrain dark energy models belonging to the Horndeski class with the recent Planck 2015 CMB data. The space of theories is spanned by a certain number of parameters determining the linear cosmological perturbations, while the expansion history is set to that of a standard ΛCDM model. We always demand that the theories be free of fatal instabilities. Additionally, we consider two optional conditions, namely that scalar and tensor perturbations propagate with subliminal speed. Such criteria severely restrict the allowed parameter space and are thus very effective in shaping the posteriors. As a result, we confirm that no theory performs better than ΛCDM when CMB data alone are analysed. Indeed, the healthy dark energy models considered here are not able to reproduce those phenomenological behaviours of the effective Newton constant and gravitational slip parameters that, according to previous studies, best fit the data.