Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of duration as a phonetic correlate of focus

The aim of the present paper is to collect quantitative data on durational patterns of target words in different information structure conditions. The acoustic data will be the basis for the manipulation of stimuli to conduct perception tests that will deal with the role of duration as a correlate of focus prominence. For that purpose, a production study is presented that investigates the effects of information structure (wide, narrow, and contrastive focus, prefocal and postfocal givenness), sentence length and position in a sentence on duration of a target constituent in German. Duration of target constituents was measured in 400 utterances produced by 10 speakers. The predictions that focus increases target word duration has been confirmed, while the expected decrease in duration due to givenness has only been confirmed for prefocal given constituents. Postfocally, duration is equivalent to wide focus duration. The effects of sentence length and position have only partly been confirmed; a constituent seems to be shorter in longer sentences than in short ones, and target words occurring early in a sentence appear to be longer than late occurring ones.
Novel real-time quantitative PCR test for trisomy 21.

The detection of gross chromosomal abnormalities is a major focus of invasive prenatal diagnosis testing, of which the most common cytogenetic anomaly in live births is trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). Classically these examinations are lengthy procedures relying on karyotypic analysis of cultured amniocytes or chorionic mesenchyme. More rapid alternatives, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization and quantitative fluorescent PCR on uncultured cells, are time- and labor-intensive. Here we describe a novel real-time PCR (1)(2) assay for the detection of trisomy 21 that is readily amenable to automation and high-throughput screening. Real-time PCR can determine subtle alterations in gene dosage, such as hetero- or homozygosity of the RhD locus (3) and protooncogene amplification in breast cancer patients (4). We examined whether a real-time PCR assay could determine chromosomal ploidy, in particular for the prenatal detection of Down syndrome (trisomy 21). We examined the coamplification of a genetic locus (amyloid gene) in the Down’s region of chromosome 21 and a control locus [glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH)] on chromosome 12. The amyloid gene locus on chromosome 21 was chosen because aberrant expression of this protein has been implicated in the physiologic lesions associated with Down syndrome (5). Furthermore, use of this locus should enable the detection of unbalanced Robertsonian translocations involving the Down’s region of chromosome 21, which occur in ∼4% of Down syndrome cases (6). No such cases were available during in this pilot study. We used a …
Multidrug Efflux Pumps: Expression Patterns and Contribution to Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms are intrinsically resistant to antimicrobial chemotherapies. At present, very little is known about the physiological changes that occur during the transition from the planktonic to biofilm mode of growth. The resistance ofP. aeruginosa biofilms to numerous antimicrobial agents that are substrates subject to active efflux from planktonic cells suggests that efflux pumps may substantially contribute to the innate resistance of biofilms. In this study, we investigated the expression of genes associated with two multidrug resistance (MDR) efflux pumps, MexAB-OprM and MexCD-OprJ, throughout the course of biofilm development. Using fusions to gfp, we were able to analyze spatial and temporal expression of mexA andmexC in the developing biofilm. Remarkably, expression ofmexAB-oprM and mexCD-oprJ was not upregulated but rather decreased over time in the developing biofilm. Northern blot analysis confirmed that these pumps were not hyperexpressed in the biofilm. Furthermore, spatial differences in mexAB-oprM andmexCD-oprJ expression were observed, with maximal activity occurring at the biofilm substratum. Using a series of MDR mutants, we assessed the contribution of the MexAB-OprM, MexCD-OprJ, MexEF-OprN, and MexXY efflux pumps to P. aeruginosa biofilm resistance. These analyses led to the surprising discovery that the four characterized efflux pumps do not play a role in the antibiotic-resistant phenotype of P. aeruginosa biofilms.
Chlorophyll Biosynthetic Capacity and Xanthophyll Cycle of a White-Green Variegated Ficus microcarpa Cv. Milky Stripe

The white sector in the variegated leaves are studied by the variegated mutant lines, but the photosynthetic properties in the leaves of natural plant were less been examined. In present study, we analyzed the chlorophyll biosynthetic capacity and xanthophyll cycle components in the green and white sectors of variegated leaves of milky stripe fig (Ficus microcarpa cv. milky stripe). The white sector had approximately 2.2 % as much chlorophyll and 9.5 % as much carotenoid as does the green sector, but the ratio of carotenoid to chlorophyll in the white sector was 5.3fold higher than that in the green sector. HPLC analysis demonstrated that, excepting neoxanthin, all other identified carotenoids were presented in large quantities in the green sector than in the white sector. The rate of degradation of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), magnesium protoporphyrin IX (MGPP), and protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) in the white sector was higher than that in the green sector. Δ-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-supplementation test indicates that the chlorophyll biosynthesis between ALA and Pchlide was partially impaired in the white sector, but is remarkably impaired in the steps after Pchlide. This study revealed the deficient process of photosynthesis and the importance of xanthophyll cycle in the white sector of natural leaves.
Glister: A framework for iterative MapReduce

In cloud computing era, Big Data analytics is used predominantly. To analyze Big Data we need powerful tools and distributed computation. Map Reduce is one of the programming models that can be adopted by any programming language and used to develop software for analyzing such a huge amount of data. Map Reduce is generally used for parallel processing. But if it can be extended to implement iterative algorithms, performance can be increased. There is a need of some programming model to analyze Big Data that can work on iterative algorithms that may require parallel computation also. For iterative algorithms, some parts that can be parallelized can be implemented in Map Reduce. In this paper, a new framework for Map Reduce is proposed and implemented that supports iterative computation efficiently.
Exercise induces isoform-specific increase in 5'AMP-activated protein kinase activity in human skeletal muscle.

The 5'AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is stimulated by contractile activity in rat skeletal muscle. AMPK has emerged as an important signaling intermediary in the regulation of cell metabolism being linked to exercise-induced changes in muscle glucose and fatty acid metabolism. In the present study, we determined the effects of exercise on isoform-specific AMPK activity (alpha1 and alpha2) in human skeletal muscle. Needle biopsies of vastus lateralis muscle were obtained from seven healthy subjects at rest, after 20 and 60 min of cycle ergometer exercise at 70% of VO(2)max, and 30 min following the 60 min exercise bout. In comparison to the resting state, AMPK alpha2 activity significantly increased at 20 and 60 min of exercise, and remained at a higher level with 30 min of recovery. AMPK alpha1 activity tended to slightly decrease with 20 min of exercise at 70%VO(2)max; however, the change was not statistically significant. AMPK alpha1 activities were at basal levels at 60 min of exercise and 30 min of recovery. On a separate day, the same subjects exercised for 20 min at 50% of VO(2)max. Exercise at this intensity did not change alpha2 activity, and similar to exercise at 70% of VO(2)max, there was no significant change in alpha1 activity. In conclusion, exercise at a higher intensity for only 20 min leads to increases in AMPK alpha2 activity but not alpha1 activity. These results suggest that the alpha2-containing AMPK complex, rather than alpha1, may be involved in the metabolic responses to exercise in human skeletal muscle.
Targeted Recruitment of the Sin3-Rpd3 Histone Deacetylase Complex Generates a Highly Localized Domain of Repressed Chromatin In Vivo

ABSTRACT Eukaryotic organisms contain a multiprotein complex that includes Rpd3 histone deacetylase and the Sin3 corepressor. The Sin3-Rpd3 complex is recruited to promoters by specific DNA-binding proteins, whereupon it represses transcription. By directly analyzing the chromatin structure of a repressed promoter in yeast cells, we demonstrate that transcriptional repression is associated with localized histone deacetylation. Specifically, we observe decreased acetylation of histones H3 and H4 (preferentially lysines 5 and 12) that depends on the DNA-binding repressor (Ume6), Sin3, and Rpd3. Mapping experiments indicate that the domain of histone deacetylation is highly localized, occurring over a range of one to two nucleosomes. Taken together with previous observations, these results define a novel mechanism of transcriptional repression which involves targeted recruitment of a histone-modifying activity and localized perturbation of chromatin structure.
The Relationship between the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and the Presence of Fragmented QRS Complexes in Patients with Hypertension

Background: Fragmented QRS (fQRS) detected on electrocardiography (ECG) has been demonstrated to be a marker of myocardial fibrosis in hypertensive patients. Retinal microvascular abnormalities reflect cumulative microcirculatory damage resulting from hypertension and atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in hypertensive patients with and without fQRS complexes detected on ECG. Methods: Consecutive patients who were diagnosed with hypertension were included in the study. ECG and transthoracic echocardiography were performed to all patients. fQRS was defined as additional R’ wave or notching/splitting of S wave in two contiguous ECG leads. The RNFL thickness was measured by a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device along a circle around the center of the optic disc. Results: This observational case-control study enrolled 62 (42 female, mean age: 54.3±9.9 years) hypertensive patients with fQRS and 42 (24 female, mean age: 53.1±11.8 years) hypertensive control patients without fQRS between April 2017 and October 2017. There was no significant difference between groups regarding demagraphic, laboratory and echocardiographic parameters. In all retinal quadrants, the mean RNFL thickness did not differ signiﬁcantly between patients with fQRS(+) and fQRS(-) group. Conclusion: The presence of fQRS in the ECG had no significant effect on the RNFL thickness in hypertensive patients. Detection of fQRS may not be used as a useful non-invasive technique in the evaluation of atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients.
THE ESSENTIALS of DEBRIEFING in Simulation Learning: A Concept Analysis

&NA; Debriefing is essential element of simulation; however, practices vary greatly. Common elements include critique, correction, and evaluation of student performance and discussion of the experience. Learning occurs in simulation through contextual task training and repetition, but significant learning occurs when deep insight is made explicit through reflection during debriefing. The value of the student's learning is in the student's ability to engage in reflection that translates into actionable knowledge. Facilitating debriefing emphasizing reflection is an essential competency, yet little research and resources are available to guide best practices in debriefing. This article analyzes the concept of debriefing and identifies essential components. Examples that demonstrate defining attributes of debriefing are included. This work supports the identification of best practices and future research agendas to enable nurse educators to master the knowledge and strategies needed to provide students with significant learning during simulation.
Total factor productivity growth in local economic partnership regions in Britain, 1997-2008

This paper decomposes aggregate TFP growth in Britain for 1997-2008 to show the contribution of different LEPs and the role played by manufacturing and services and UK- and foreign-owned plants within these LEPs. These contributions are further decomposed to show the role of productivity growth in continuing plants vis-a-vis reallocations in output shares. The results show that the largest LEPs, in population terms, with higher levels of job density, greater reliance on manufacturing and skilled worker occupations, higher proportions of workers with NVQ4+ qualifications, and lower turnover of businesses, achieved the highest TFP growth. This strong performance is mostly the result of reallocations of output shares towards high productivity continuing plants and the opening of high productivity plants.
A Periplasmic Thioredoxin-Like Protein Plays a Role in Defense against Oxidative Stress in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

ABSTRACT Thioredoxin-like proteins of the TlpA/ResE/CcmG subfamily are known to face the periplasm in gram-negative bacteria. Using the tlpA gene of Bradyrhizobium japonicum as a query, we identified a locus (NGO1923) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae that encodes a thioredoxin-like protein (NG_TlpA). Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the predicted NG_TlpA protein contained a cleavable signal peptide at the N terminus, and secondary structure analysis identified a thioredoxin fold with a helical insertion (∼25 residues), similar to that found in B. japonicum TlpA but absent in cytoplasmic thioredoxins. Biochemical characterization of a recombinant form of NG_TlpA revealed a standard redox potential (E0′) of −206 mV. This property and the observation that the oxidized form of the protein exhibited greater thermal stability than the reduced species indicated that NG_TlpA is a reducing thioredoxin and not an oxidizing thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase like DsbA. The thioredoxin activity of NG_TlpA was confirmed in an insulin disulfide reduction assay. A tlpA mutant of N. gonorrhoeae strain 1291 was found to be highly sensitive to oxidative killing by paraquat and hydrogen peroxide, indicating an antioxidant role for the NG_TlpA in this bacterium. The tlpA mutant also exhibited reduced intracellular survival in human primary cervical epithelial cells.
Dual Location of the Mitochondrial Preprotein Transporters B14.7 and Tim23-2 in Complex I and the TIM17:23 Complex in Arabidopsis Links Mitochondrial Activity and Biogenesis[C][W][OA]

This work shows that the preprotein transporters B14.7 and Tim23.2 accumulate in two mitochondrial protein complexes: the respiratory chain complex I and the protein import complex TIM17:23, and that the abundance of complex I is inversely related to the abundance of Tim23. This could serve to activate mitochondrial biogenesis under conditions that damage complex I (e.g. oxidative damage or increased respiratory demand). Interactions between the respiratory chain and protein import complexes have been previously reported in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but the biological significance of such interactions remains unknown. Characterization of two mitochondrial preprotein and amino acid transport proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana, NADH dehydrogenase B14.7 like (B14.7 [encoded by At2g42210]) and Translocase of the inner membrane subunit 23-2 (Tim23-2 [encoded by At1g72750]), revealed both proteins are present in respiratory chain complex I and the Translocase of the Inner Membrane 17:23. Whereas depletion of B14.7 by T-DNA insertion is lethal, Tim23-2 can be depleted without lethality. Subtle overexpression of Tim23-2 results in a severe delayed growth phenotype and revealed an unexpected, inverse correlation between the abundance of Tim23-2 and the abundance of respiratory complex I. This newly discovered relationship between protein import and respiratory function was confirmed through the investigation of independent complex I knockout mutants, which were found to have correspondingly increased levels of Tim23-2. This increase in Tim23-2 was also associated with delayed growth phenotypes, increased abundance of other import components, and an increased capacity for mitochondrial protein import. Analysis of the Tim23-2–overexpressing plants through global quantitation of transcript abundance and in-organelle protein synthesis assays revealed widespread alterations in transcript abundance of genes encoding mitochondrial proteins and altered rates of mitochondrial protein translation, indicating a pivotal relationship between the machinery of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial function.
Predictive Control of a Diesel Engine Air Path

This brief addresses the model-based control of the air path of diesel engines in terms of an optimal control problem with input constraints which can be solved using model predictive algorithms. A multilinear model identified from data and a switched controller design are used to cope with the nonlinearity of the engine. Experimental results on a production engine confirm that the proposed control method strongly improves the dynamics of the air path and enormously reduces the parameterization work if compared with the conventional approach. To obtain improvements in emissions as well, the new controller approach cannot simply be plugged in at the site of the conventional one, but new set points must be determined. After such a redesign, improvements of 50% in terms of nitrogen oxides and of 10% in terms of particulate matter have been recorded without a net consumption increase, the main price being the increased activity of the turbocharger vane and especially of the exhaust gas recirculation valve
Biochar as Phosphorus Conditioner in Substrate for Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa Humb. & Bonpl.) Seedling Production in the Central Amazon

The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction of biochar and phosphorus in substrate for seedling production of Brazil nut. A greenhouse experiment was carried out with the following treatments: five doses of biochar (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 t ha-1) and effect of two levels of phosphorus (0 and 100 kg ha-1 of P2O5) with 4 replicates. The plant height, stem diameter and number of leaves were monthly evaluated. At the end of experiment (180 days), the plants were removed from the pots and were evaluated the dry weight of the seedlings (total, shoot and roots), absolute growth rate, height/diameter and shoot/root ratio, number of leaves, leaf gain and quality index of seedlings. There was a significant interaction between the biochar and phosphorus interaction. The elevation of the bioburden doses did not influence any variables with phosphorus. In the absence of phosphorus, the doses of up to 40 t ha-1 of biochar promoted the highest values of the analyzed variables. Higher doses of biochar (> 40 t ha-1) reduced the growth and seedlings quality, however, it was found that under phosphate fertilization, the seedlings were obtained better growth results.
Phosphatidylserine receptor Tim-4 is essential for the maintenance of the homeostatic state of resident peritoneal macrophages

Tim-4 is a phosphatidylserine (PS) receptor that is expressed on various macrophage subsets. It mediates phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by peritoneal macrophages. The in vivo functions of Tim-4 in phagocytosis and immune responses, however, are still unclear. In this study, we show that Tim-4 quickly forms punctate caps on contact with apoptotic cells, in contrast to its normal diffused expression on the surface of phagocytes. Despite its expression in marginal zone and tingible body macrophages, Tim-4 deficiency only minimally affects outcomes of several acute immune challenges, including the trapping of apoptotic cells in the marginal zone, the clearance apoptotic cells by tingible body macrophages, and the formation of germinal centers and elicitation of antibody responses against sheep red blood cells (SRBCs). In addition, Tim-4−/− resident peritoneal macrophages (rPMs) phagocytose necrotic cells and other opsonized targets normally. However, their ability to bind and engulf apoptotic cells is significantly compromised both in vitro and in vivo. Most importantly, Tim-4 deficiency results in increased cellularity in the peritoneum. Resting rPMs produce higher TNF-α in culture. Their response to LPS, on the contrary, is dampened. Our data support an indispensible role of Tim-4 in maintaining the homeostasis of rPMs.
Multi-objective optimal power management in microgrids: A comparative study

The design of Energy Management System involves important technological challenges to obtain optimal power management in microgrids, especially when two or more objectives must be reached. As an approach, several constrained multi-objective optimization (MO) algorithms partially can address optimal power management. For these cases, a decision-maker must choose not only the final set-points, but the best MO algorithm applied to the process. This paper presents a comparative study among four MO algorithms: MOGA, NSGAII, SPEA2 and IMOPSO to propose a comparative framework to ease choosing of a better MO algorithm. The comparative study proposes five criteria to evaluate the performance based on the average of: total operation costs, total emissions, energy share, runtime and non-dominated solutions in grid-connected mode. Results show IMOPSO offers overall better performance while MOGA provides good behavior in average of emissions and runtime. Nonetheless, this framework could improve decisions by increasing the set of criteria properly.
Rhes: A striatal‐specific Ras homolog related to Dexras1

We have characterized an apparently full‐length cDNA corresponding to a rat mRNA, SE6C, previously identified by subtractive hybridization as being expressed predominantly in the striatal region of the brain. The SE6C mRNA encodes a 266 amino acid protein with significant similarity to members of the Ras‐like GTP‐binding protein family; thus, we have chosen the name Rhes, for Ras homolog enriched in striatum. The human homolog was found in a genomic sequence from human chromosome 22q13.1 and shares 95% identity with rat Rhes. Among the family of small G‐proteins, Rhes shares 62% identity with Dexras1, a mouse dexamethasone‐inducible Ras‐like protein. Both Rhes and Dexras1 have substantially longer C‐termini than other members of the Ras‐like small G‐protein family. Divergence between the C‐terminal sequences of Rhes and Dexras1 suggests that, although their functions are probably similar, they have unique properties. Bacterially expressed Rhes binds GTP, suggesting that the protein indeed has GTPase functionality. Although Rhes was not induced by dexamethasone, its full expression is dependent upon thyroid hormone availability. Its accumulation is postnatal, consistent with the dependence upon thyroid hormone. It is noteworthy that most striatum‐“specific” mRNAs characterized to date encode components of signal transduction cascades. J. Neurosci. Res. 57:782–788, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.