Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extraction of apricot kernel oil in cold desert Ladakh, India

Apricot ( Prunus armeniaca L., Rosaceae) is the most important fruit crop of cold desert of Ladakh. Oil extracted from the sweet kernel is used for edible purpose while that of bitter kernel has religious, cosmetic and medicinal values. The oil is popular as body oil or massage oil, is known to relieve backache and joints ache. With the advancement of technology the cumbersome traditional method of oil extraction is slowly declining. However, the oil extracted by the traditional method is still being preferred due to its distinct smell. This paper describes the ancient traditional method of apricot kernel oil extraction still being practiced in some parts of Ladakh. Apricot ( Prunus armeniaca L., Rosaceae) is the most important fruit crop of cold desert of Ladakh. It covers 54% (707 ha) of total area under fruit crop in Leh district with the approximate annual yield of 2,956 MT/yr fresh fruit. Due to highly perishable nature, nearly 85% of the fruit is dried to extend its availability throughout the year 1 . The fruit crop is a major source of livelihood and is deeply associated with the tradition and culture of the region 2 . Apricot, locally known as Chuli , is broadly classified in Ladakh region into two categories based on taste of the kernel. Fruits with bitter kernel are called Khante meaning bitter, while those with sweet kernel are called Nyarmo meaning sweet. Sweet kernel is mainly consumed without processing as an important source of dietary protein, oil and fibre. Analysis of bitter apricot kernel of Ladakh region showed that the kernel is a rich source of oil (up to 54.21%), protein (17.75-22.56%), carbohydrate (21.16-35.26%), crude fibre (0.84-4.71%) and dietary fibre (6.03-22.24%) 3 . Apricot kernel oil is a rich source (94.4%) of unsaturated fatty acids rich in oleic acid (66.2%) and linoleic acid (28.2%) 4 . Oil extracted from the sweet kernel is used for edible purpose either in pure form or mixed with walnut oil. A spoonful of oil is mixed with finely ground roasted barley flour, salted tea and sugar to prepare a local dish called Phemar , which is served to guests and during festive occasion like marriage ceremony. The bitter kernel is used for extraction of oil which has religious, cosmetic and medicinal values. Even today, the oil is used as hair oil and is known to relieve backache and joints ache. The oil is popular as body oil and massage oil and is known for its ability to penetrate the skin without leaving an oily feel. Applying warm apricot oil mixed with a pinch of common salt on chest is known to give relief to patients with acidity.
Kinetic and Affinity Predictions of a Protein-Protein Interaction Using Multivariate Experimental Design*

We measured the influence of 14 mutations and 5 environmental variables (buffer perturbation) on the association and dissociation rate of a camel single domain antibody (cAb-Lys3) interacting with hen egg white lysozyme using a surface plasmon resonance-based biosensor. Based on this data set, we constructed quantitative predictive models for both kinetic (ka and kd ) constants as for the affinity constant (K d ). Mutations, after parameterization by quantitative descriptors, and buffers were selected using multivariate experimental design. These models were able to predict the corresponding parameters of four new variants of cAb-Lys3. Moreover, the models provide insights to the important chemical aspects of the interacting residues, which are difficult to deduce from the crystal structure. Our approach provides useful physicochemical information of protein-protein interactions in general. The information obtained from this kind of analysis complements and goes beyond that of conventional methods like alanine scanning and substitution by closely related amino acids. The mathematical modeling may contribute to a rational approach in the optimization of bio-molecules of biotechnological interest.
A image denoising algorithm based on sparse dictionary

This paper proposes a sparse denoising algorithm based on noise image training dictionary using K-SVD algorithm to solve the problem that fixed dictionary sparsity is not ideal and the denoising quality is not high enough in image sparse denoising. The main task of K-SVD algorithm is to update the dictionary alternately during iteration process. We compared the image denoising performance of three sparse dictionaries with the images of different types and details. Our results confirm that the image sparse denoising algorithm based on noise image training dictionary has better performance and adaptability than the other two algorithms.
Road-killed Common Toads (Bufo bufo) in Flanders (Belgium) Reveal Low Prevalence of Ranaviruses and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Road-killed common toads (Bufo bufo; n=1,740) from Flanders, Belgium, were tested for ranavirus and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) using polymerase chain reaction. Both infections were present at a very low prevalence (<0.2% with a confidence interval of 95% for ranavirus and 0.63% for Bd).
Double vital staining using trypan blue and infracyanine green in macular pucker surgery

Aims: To study the clinical properties of double vital staining in premacular fibrosis, facilitating complete removal of all epiretinal tissue. Methods: In a two step surgery, the epiretinal pucker was removed after staining with trypan blue, whereafter the inner limiting membrane was peeled after staining with infracyanine green. Results: In all 30 patients, a separate epiretinal layer and inner limiting membrane were removed from the macular area. Pathological examination showed different histological properties of the removed layers. An increased visual acuity was measured in 26 patients, and a slightly decreased visual acuity in one patient. Conclusion: The described double staining technique could be a novel valuable tool that may help to achieve optimal anatomical and functional recovery after surgery for premacular fibrosis
Diabetes mellitus in Eskimos after a decade.

Although clinical diabetes mellitus is still rare, more Eskimos were intolerant of glucose in 1972 than was true ten years earlier. Also, a higher proportion of the population was overweight. The high tolerance for glucose in these people does not appear to have a genetic basis, but may instead be associated with physical activity and physical fitness.
Serial perioperative cell‐free DNA levels in donors and recipients undergoing living donor liver transplantation

Effect of anaesthesia and surgery on cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) is not known. Given that surgical stress augments inflammation and injury, we hypothesized that levels of cfDNA will fluctuate during perioperative period. Therefore, in this study serial perioperative cfDNA concentration was measured in donors and recipients undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).
Using phylogeographic analyses of gene trees to test species status and processes

A gene tree is an evolutionary reconstruction of the genealogical history of the genetic variation found in a sample of homologous genes or DNA regions that have experienced little or no recombination. Gene trees have the potential of straddling the interface between intra‐ and interspecific evolution. It is precisely at this interface that the process of speciation occurs, and gene trees can therefore be used as a powerful tool to probe this interface. One application is to infer species status. The cohesion species is defined as an evolutionary lineage or set of lineages with genetic exchangeability and/or ecological interchangeability. This species concept can be phrased in terms of null hypotheses that can be tested rigorously and objectively by using gene trees. First, an overlay of geography upon the gene tree is used to test the null hypothesis that the sample is from a single evolutionary lineage. This phase of testing can indicate that the sampled organisms are indeed from a single lineage and therefore a single cohesion species. In other cases, this null hypothesis is not rejected due to a lack of power or inadequate sampling. Alternatively, this null hypothesis can be rejected because two or more lineages are in the sample. The test can identify lineages even when hybridization and lineage sorting occur. Only when this null hypothesis is rejected is there the potential for more than one cohesion species. Although all cohesion species are evolutionary lineages, not all evolutionary lineages are cohesion species. Therefore, if the first null hypothesis is rejected, a second null hypothesis is tested that all lineages are genetically exchangeable and/or ecologically interchangeable. This second test is accomplished by direct contrasts of previously identified lineages or by overlaying reproductive and/or ecological data upon the gene tree and testing for significant transitions that are concordant with the previously identified lineages. Only when this second null hypothesis is rejected is a lineage elevated to the status of cohesion species. By using gene trees in this manner, species can be identified with objective, a priori criteria with an inference procedure that automatically yields much insight into the process of speciation. When one or more of the null hypotheses cannot be rejected, this procedure also provides specific guidance for future work that will be needed to judge species status.
Multi-Inhibitory Effects of A2A Adenosine Receptor Signaling on Neutrophil Adhesion Under Flow

A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR) signaling negatively regulates inflammatory responses in many disease models, but the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. We used the selective A2AAR agonist, ATL313, to examine how A2AAR signaling affects human and murine neutrophil adhesion under flow. Treating neutrophils with ATL313 inhibited selectin-induced, β2 integrin–dependent slow rolling and chemokine-induced, β2 integrin–dependent arrest on ICAM-1. ATL313 inhibited selectin-induced β2 integrin extension, which supports slow rolling, and chemokine-induced hybrid domain “swing-out,” which supports arrest. Furthermore, ATL313 inhibited integrin outside-in signaling as revealed by reduced neutrophil superoxide production and spreading on immobilized anti–β2 integrin Ab. ATL313 suppressed selectin-triggered activation of Src family kinases (SFKs) and p38 MAPK, chemokine-triggered activation of Ras-related protein 1, and β2 integrin–triggered activation of SFKs and Vav cytoskeletal regulatory proteins. ATL313 activated protein kinase A and its substrate C-terminal Src kinase, an inhibitor of SFKs. Treating neutrophils with a protein kinase A inhibitor blocked the actions of ATL313. In vivo, ATL313-treated neutrophils rolled faster and arrested much less frequently in postcapillary venules of the murine cremaster muscle after TNF-α challenge. Furthermore, ATL313 markedly suppressed neutrophil migration into the peritoneum challenged with thioglycollate. ATL313 did not affect A2AAR-deficient neutrophils, confirming its specificity. Our findings provide new insights into the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of A2AAR signaling and the potential utility of A2AAR agonists in inflammatory diseases.
Ribosomal crystallography: peptide bond formation and its inhibition.

Ribosomes, the universal cellular organelles catalyzing the translation of genetic code into proteins, are protein/RNA assemblies, of a molecular weight 2.5 mega Daltons or higher. They are built of two subunits that associate for performing protein biosynthesis. The large subunit creates the peptide bond and provides the path for emerging proteins. The small has key roles in initiating the process and controlling its fidelity. Crystallographic studies on complexes of the small and the large eubacterial ribosomal subunits with substrate analogs, antibiotics, and inhibitors confirmed that the ribosomal RNA governs most of its activities, and indicated that the main catalytic contribution of the ribosome is the precise positioning and alignment of its substrates, the tRNA molecules. A symmetry-related region of a significant size, containing about two hundred nucleotides, was revealed in all known structures of the large ribosomal subunit, despite the asymmetric nature of the ribosome. The symmetry rotation axis, identified in the middle of the peptide-bond formation site, coincides with the bond connecting the tRNA double-helical features with its single-stranded 3' end, which is the moiety carrying the amino acids. This thus implies sovereign movements of tRNA features and suggests that tRNA translocation involves a rotatory motion within the ribosomal active site. This motion is guided and anchored by ribosomal nucleotides belonging to the active site walls, and results in geometry suitable for peptide-bond formation with no significant rearrangements. The sole geometrical requirement for this proposed mechanism is that the initial P-site tRNA adopts the flipped orientation. The rotatory motion is the major component of unified machinery for peptide-bond formation, translocation, and nascent protein progression, since its spiral nature ensures the entrance of the nascent peptide into the ribosomal exit tunnel. This tunnel, assumed to be a passive path for the growing chains, was found to be involved dynamically in gating and discrimination.
Simulink based modelling and simulation of the communication tower grounding system

The paper presents the mathematical modeling and simulation of communication tower grounding system during lightning strike under MATLAB/SIMLINK environment. The transmission line model is used to simulate both the tower and the grounding system. Different methods of grounding such as vertical rod, horizontal rectangular grounding and the combination of the two are studied under lightning condition. Different conditions of the soil and the effect of soil resistivity are considered and compared. The result is voltage, current and impedance variations at the point of discharge and other selected points.
The HrcA repressor is the thermosensor of the heat‐shock regulatory circuit in the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori

Bacteria exploit different strategies to perceive and rapidly respond to sudden changes of temperature. In Helicobacter pylori the response to thermic stress is transcriptionally controlled by a regulatory circuit that involves two repressors, HspR and HrcA. Here we report that HrcA acts as a protein thermometer. We demonstrate that temperature specifically modulates HrcA binding to DNA, with a complete and irreversible temperature‐dependent loss of DNA binding activity at 42°C. Intriguingly, although the reduction of HrcA binding capability is not reversible in vitro, transcriptional analysis showed that HrcA exerts its repressive influence in vivo, even when the de novo repressor synthesis is blocked after the temperature challenge. Accordingly, we demonstrate the central role of the chaperonine GroESL in restoring the HrcA binding activity, lost upon heat challenge. Together our results establish HrcA as a rare example of intrinsic temperature sensing transcriptional regulator, whose activity is post‐transcriptionally modulated by the GroESL chaperonine.
Flexibilité et modularité pour la conception d'interactions: le modèle d'architecture logicielle des graphes combinés

This paper presents the Mixed Graphs software architecture of the MAGGLITE post-WIMP toolkit. This model extends and refines the scene graph architecture by describing interactions with another structure: interaction graphs. Graphs are dynamically combined at runtime, thanks to specific communication components named Interaction Access Points. This adaptable and modular approach for describing interactive graphics is gainful for prototyping, implementing and using alternative input devices and/or interaction techniques.
Anaerobic ammonia oxidation (ANAMMOX) for side‐stream treatment of anaerobic digester filtrate process performance and microbiology

A laboratory scale semi‐batch fed anaerobic ammonia oxidation (ANAMMOX) reactor was operated in the lab under two different feeding operations. In the first scenario, termed as phase I, the reactor was seeded and operated with NO2‐N added externally with the filtrate to the reactor in the ratio needed for the successful ANAMMOX. A second reactor was also initiated shortly after the start‐up of the ANAMMOX to accomplish partial nitrification (nitritation reactor) to generate NO2‐N. In phase II, the operation of the ANAMMOX reactor was switched to the mode in which case the partially nitrified effluent from the nitritation reactor was fed to the ANAMMOX reactor. In both phases, real filtrate from a local wastewater treatment plant was used as the feed. The ANAMMOX reactor sustained a loading rate (average 0.33 ± 0.03 with a max of 0.4 g N (L day)−1) which is comparable with many other fed‐batch reactors in the literature. Consistent total N removal (average of 82 ± 4%) could be sustained in the ANAMMOX reactor during both phases. The nitritation reactor also consistently enabled a NO2‐N to NH3‐N ratio of 1.2:1 which was needed for the successful operation of the ANAMMOX reactor in phase II. Sequence analysis and FISH showed that Kuenenia stuttgartiensis dominated the enriched ANAMMOX community along with several unidentified, but seemingly enriched, potential ANAMMOX strains. Microbial ecology analysis for nitritation reactor showed the dominance of Nitrosomonas europaea. In summary, this manuscript provides important information on the start‐up and operation of anammox reactor with detailed investigation on microbial ecology in this reactor. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 1180–1192. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Non-specular scattering modeling for THz propagation simulations

In this paper, we present an approach for the modeling of non-specular scattering at rough surfaces in the THz frequency range by means of the Kirchhoff scattering theory. The practical implementation of the Kirchhoff model in a ray tracing algorithm is discussed. Ray tracing simulation results are compared with measurements for the purpose of validation. The size of the relevant active scattering region of a rough surface is investigated.
Field tests experience from 1.6MW/400kWh Li-ion battery energy storage system providing primary frequency regulation service

Lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESSs) represent suitable alternatives to conventional generating units for providing primary frequency regulation on the Danish market. This paper presents aspects concerning the operation of the BESSs in the Danish energy market while providing upwards primary frequency regulation. Moreover, the paper presents the experience form field tests dedicated to the evaluation of the BESSs' performance degradation. For this purpose, capacity measurements, Hybrid Pulse Power Characterization (HPPC) measurements, and AC impedance measurements were performed on the BESS demonstrator located in Western Denmark and initial results are introduced and discussed. These measurements can be used to validate models for battery ageing during realistic operation or to develop the diagnostic tools for the BESS.
Speaker identification using linear predictive cepstral coefficients and general regression neural network

A text-independent, closed-set speaker identification method is proposed in this paper. The method uses linear predictive cepstrum coefficients (LPCCs) as the measured features and follows general regression neural network (GRNN) approaches based on non-linear partition (NLP) algorithm and kernel principal component analysis (KPCA). The input speech signal is pre-emphasized, windowed, and LPC analyzed, resulting in a sequence of vectors of LPC derived cepstrum coefficients. To reduce the correlation and dimension of elements in the feature vector, the NLP algorithm is employed to partition the LPCCs into several segments. The dimensions of each LPCCs segment are reduced by KPCA, then fed to a GRNN for the classification of speaker identification. The numerical experiments are carried out to verify the theoretical results and clearly show that our identification system has good recognition ability in term of accuracy.
Potential Pathogenetic Role of Bovine Herpesvirus 4 in Two Dairy Cows with Dermatitis-Pyrexia-Hemorrhagic Syndrome

ABSTRACT Dermatitis, pyrexia, and hemorrhagic syndrome (DPHS) is a rare bovine syndrome of unclear etiology. We describe two DPHS cases, the first to occur in Italy, with clinicopathological findings suggesting a potential pathogenetic role of bovine herpesvirus-4 (BoHV-4).
Molecular cloning and characterization of fruit specific promoter from Cucumis sativus

The isolation and characterization of fruit specific promoters are critical for the manipulation of nutritional value and agronomic quality of fruits by genetic engineering and also opened a new era in edible vaccine technology. Expansins are proteins that induce loosening of individual plant cells by disrupting the non-covalent interactions between cellulose and hemicellulose microfibrils and hence have role in growth programs including fruit ripening. We report the identification of an expansin gene (CsExp) from Cucumis sativus that exhibits high levels of mRNA abundance and is specifically expressed in ripened fruit. The promoter region of CsExp also contains elements responsible for its fruit specific expression. Transient expression studies of the CsExp promoter were conducted with particle bombardment, followed by GUS histochemical assay and real time PCR. CaMV35S promoter was used as the positive control in all these experiments. Clear fruit specificity was observed for CsExp promoter in all the experiments. Thus CsExp promoter from Cucumber is a good candidate to target expression of the foreign genes to engineer fruit specific traits.
Changes Feeling Threatened About the Future : Whites ' Emotional Reactions to Anticipated Ethnic Demographic

In many Western countries, the proportion of the population that is White will drop below 50% within the next century. Two experiments examined how anticipation of these future ethnic demographics affects current intergroup processes. In Study 1, White Americans who viewed actual demographic projections for a time when Whites are no longer a numerical majority felt more angry toward and fearful of ethnic minorities than Whites who did not view future projections. Whites who viewed the future projections also felt more sympathy for their ingroup than Whites in the control condition. In Study 2, the authors replicated the effects for intergroup emotions with a sample of White Canadians. White Canadians who thought about a future in which Whites were a numerical minority appraised the ingroup as more threatened, which mediated the effect of condition on intergroup emotions. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for race relations in increasingly diverse societies.