Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen adsorption in HKUST-1: a combined inelastic neutron scattering and first-principles study

Hydrogen adsorption in high surface area nanoporous coordination polymers has attracted a great deal of interest in recent years due to the potential applications in energy storage. Here we present combined inelastic neutron scattering measurements and detailed first-principles calculations aimed at unraveling the nature of hydrogen adsorption in HKUST-1 (Cu3(1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate)2), a metal–organic framework (MOF) with unsaturated metal centers. We reveal that, in this system, the major contribution to the overall binding comes from the classical Coulomb interaction which is not screened due to the open metal site; this explains the relatively high binding energies and short H2–metal distances observed in MOFs with exposed metal sites as compared to traditional ones. Despite the short distances, there is no indication of an elongation of the H–H bond for the bound H2 molecule at the metal site. We find that both the phonon and rotational energy levels of the hydrogen molecule are closely similar, making the interpretation of the inelastic neutron scattering data difficult. Finally, we show that the orientation of H2 has a surprisingly large effect on the binding potential, reducing the classical binding energy by almost 30%. The implication of these results for the development of MOF materials for better hydrogen storage is discussed.
Block Expectation Propagation for Downlink Channel Estimation in Massive MIMO Systems

To address the challenging problem of downlink channel estimation with low pilot overhead in massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, an empirical Bayesian block expectation propagation (EP) algorithm is proposed. Specifically, a block Bernoulli-Gaussian prior channel model is proposed to fit the underlying block sparsity, and a block EP algorithm is derived to estimate the channels more accurately by clustering all the channel taps that pertain to the same delay, while the model parameters are learned by minimizing the Bethe free energy. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm achieves considerable reduction of pilot overhead in a massive MIMO system with tens of antennas, while maintaining superior channel estimation performance.
Association of FK506 binding proteins with RyR channels – effect of CLIC2 binding on sub-conductance opening and FKBP binding

ABSTRACT Ryanodine receptor (RyR) Ca2+ channels are central to striated muscle function and influence signalling in neurons and other cell types. Beneficially low RyR activity and maximum conductance opening may be stabilised when RyRs bind to FK506 binding proteins (FKBPs) and destabilised by FKBP dissociation, with submaximal opening during RyR hyperactivity associated with myopathies and neurological disorders. However, the correlation with submaximal opening is debated and quantitative evidence is lacking. Here, we have measured altered FKBP binding to RyRs and submaximal activity with addition of wild-type (WT) CLIC2, an inhibitory RyR ligand, or its H101Q mutant that hyperactivates RyRs, which probably causes cardiac and intellectual abnormalities. The proportion of sub-conductance opening increases with WT and H101Q CLIC2 and is correlated with reduced FKBP–RyR association. The sub-conductance opening reduces RyR currents in the presence of WT CLIC2. In contrast, sub-conductance openings contribute to excess RyR ‘leak’ with H101Q CLIC2. There are significant FKBP and RyR isoform-specific actions of CLIC2, rapamycin and FK506 on FKBP–RyR association. The results show that FKBPs do influence RyR gating and would contribute to excess Ca2+ release in this CLIC2 RyR channelopathy. Summary: FK506 binding proteins influence RyR gating and this contributes to excess Ca2+ release in the CLIC2 RyR channelopathy.
Ankle flexors produce peak torque at longer muscle lengths after whole-body vibration.

INTRODUCTION Whole-body vibration (WBV) has become a popular training method in recent years. This study investigated the effect of WBV on the length-tension relationship of the ankle dorsi- and plantarflexors as measured by a Biodex dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems Inc, Shirley, NY). METHODS Twenty healthy young adult males participated in this study and were exposed to two treatments. The first treatment (nonvibration) involved passive stretching of the plantarflexors at end range of motion (ROM) for five 1-min bouts. The second treatment involved the same passive stretch with superimposed WBV (frequency = 26 Hz) for five 1-min bouts on a rotary vibration plate (Galileo 900; Novotec, Pforzheim, Germany). Voluntary ROM, peak torque, and corresponding joint angle of the plantar- and dorsiflexors were recorded pre- and posttreatment. Within-treatment (before and after) and between-treatment (WBV and nonvibration) outcomes were assessed by repeated-measures MANOVA. RESULTS No significant changes in the measures of ankle dorsiflexion were found within or between treatments. No significant changes in the measures of ankle plantarflexion were found after the nonvibration treatment. After WBV, however, there was a significant 7.1 degree shift in the angle (P = 0.001) of peak plantarflexor torque production corresponding to a longer muscle length. CONCLUSION This study shows that stretched human ankle plantarflexors respond to WBV by generating peak voluntary torque at longer muscle lengths. This has possible benefits for the rehabilitation of patients with neuromuscular disorders (e.g., stroke) who experience short ankle flexor resting lengths.
Alterations of the gas exchange apparatus in adult respiratory insufficiency associated with septicemia.

Lung tissue from 9 patients dying in different stages of an acute respiratory distress syndrome due to septicemia was fixed by a postmortem transthoracic injection method for an ultrastruc-tural and morphometric analysis. At the initial stage of septic lung disease a widespread interstitial and alveolar edema was the essential finding. The capillary endothelium was relatively well preserved; in particular, no large endothelial gaps could be detected. In contrast, local destruction of the squamous epithelium, often covered by hyaline membranes, and a rapid proliferation of Type II epithelial cells were noted. In the subacute stage, cuboidal transformation of the epithelium and fibrotic alterations of the interstitium were the predominant findings. The extent of fibrotic alterations of lung architecture was not clearly related to the time course of the disease; on the other hand, the thickening of the air-blood barrier estimated by morphometry mirrored the disturbances of gas exchange and lung mechanics. Th.
Expression of miR-195 is associated with chemotherapy sensitivity of cisplatin and clinical prognosis in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer has higher morbidity and mortality than other cancers for the low diagnosis rate and few therapies. MiR-195 has been reported to be involved in the occurrence, development and prognosis of various cancers. However, the function of miR-195 in gastric cancer remains largely unknown. Herein, the aims of this study were to probe the functional mechanism of miR-195 and its chemotherapy sensitivity as well as clinical prognosis in gastric cancer. We screened out low-expressed miR-195 through microarray analysis and further confirmed miR-195 was widely down-regulated in gastric cancer cells. Subsequently, AKT3 was identified as the direct target gene of miR-195 by target gene prediction software, dual luciferase reporter assay and western blot. Functional assays indicated that miR-195 acted as a tumor suppressor through regulating the proliferative, migrated and invasive properties of gastric cancer cells in vitro, and intratumoral delivery of miR-195 significantly suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Additionally, we also found miR-195 overexpression could enhance the chemotherapy sensitivity of cisplatin in gastric cancer cells and prolong the overall survival and progression free survival of gastric cancer patients. Collectively, our findings demonstrate miR-195 may be of great significance on early diagnosis of gastric cancer, providing the theoretical basis for prognosis and recurrence risk.
Silk fabricator: using silkworms as 3D printers

Digital fabrication has evolved over time with the development of various methods such as three-dimensional (3D) printing and laser cutting. Three-dimensional printers are capable of easily producing output from complicated models designed in a computer. In addition, bio technologies are applying for fabrication [Yao et al. 2015]. How can 3D printers be made to output computationally-designed models of 3D sheets? Typically, the production of objects made of silk threads requires several steps (Figure 2): (1) silkworms form cocoons, (2) cocoons are made into threads, and (3) threads are transformed into clothes or other products. In the past, silkworms have been considered primarily as organisms that create silk threads, rather than as being capable of providing a method of silk production. Silk Pavillion [Oxman et al. 2014] was the first example where silkworms were regarded as providing a viable production method. However, this study only focused on making large but simple structures. In this study, we propose a new method to construct arbitrary three-dimensional silk sheets using silkworms (Figure 1). Our method can be applied to small objects printed with 3D printers. First, we print a 3D model in several parts to prevent silkworms from forming cocoons. When designing the model, we ensure that the silkworms have sufficient space to create silk sheets. Second, we print the portions of the model with a 3D printer. Third, we place silkworms on these portions, allowing them to spit silk threads. Finally, we peel off the produced sheets and connect them. This approach depends on the fact that when silkworms are placed on the surface of a three-dimensional object, they create silk sheets matched to the shape of the surface.
Role of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase in Nongenomic Aldosterone Effects in Human Arteries

Abstract —The aim of the present study was to demonstrate rapid effects of aldosterone on the Na+-H+ exchanger in strips of human vascular vessels and to determine whether 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme (11β-HSD) could play a protective role in this response, such as that described for the classic type I mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). The activity of 11β-HSD isoforms 1 and 2 were measured in fetal and adult arteries. Both isoforms are present in adult and fetal vessels. However, a significant difference in the proportion of each isoform was found. Isoform 1 activity (in pmol · min−1 · 100 mg−1 protein) was 42±5 in fetal vessels and 29±2 in adult arteries, and isoform 2 activity was 78±7 in fetal and 12±2 in adult tissue. The nongenomic effect of aldosterone on Na+-H+ exchanger activity was measured in strips of chorionic and radial uterine arteries loaded with the pH-sensitive dye 2′,7′-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein. Recordings of intracellular pH (pHi) were made by videofluorescence microscopy. Aldosterone (0.5 nmol/L) rapidly increased pHi, with a half-maximal effect between 2 and 3 nmol/L in both fetal and adult vessels. Ethylisopropylamiloride, a specific inhibitor of the Na+-H+ exchanger, inhibited this effect. The hormone-mediated increase in pHi was unaffected by spironolactone, a classic antagonist of MR, but was completely blocked by RU28318. Cortisol (up to 1 μmol/L) had no effect on pHi, but when applied in the presence of carbenoxolone, a dramatic increase in Na+-H+ exchanger activity was evident. The increments on pHi for each cortisol concentration were similar to those observed for aldosterone. These findings suggest that vascular 11β-HSD plays an active role in maintaining the specificity of the rapid effects of aldosterone.
Autoregulatory control of the p 53 response by caspase-mediated processing of HIPK 2

Ekaterina Gresko, Ana Roscic, Stefanie Ritterhoff, Anton Vichalkovski, Giannino del Sal and M Lienhard Schmitz* Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland, Laboratorio Nazionale Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie (LNCIB), Area Science Park, Trieste, Italy, Dipartimento di Biochimica Biofisica Chimica delle Macromolecole, Trieste, Italy and Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
Fine Discrimination in the Recognition of Individual Species of Phosphatidyl-myo-Inositol Mannosides from Mycobacterium tuberculosis by C-Type Lectin Pattern Recognition Receptors1

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) envelope is highly mannosylated with phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannosides (PIMs), lipomannan, and mannose-capped lipoarabinomannan (ManLAM). Little is known regarding the interaction between specific PIM types and host cell C-type lectin pattern recognition receptors. The macrophage mannose receptor (MR) and dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3-grabbing nonintegrin on dendritic cells engage ManLAM mannose caps and regulate several host responses. In this study, we analyzed the association of purified PIM families (f, separated by carbohydrate number) and individual PIM species (further separated by fatty acid number) from M.tb H37Rv with human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and lectin-expressing cell lines using an established bead model. Higher-order PIMs preferentially associated with the MR as demonstrated by their reduced association with MDMs upon MR blockade and increased binding to COS-1-MR. In contrast, the lower-order PIM2f associated poorly with MDMs and did not bind to COS-1-MR. Triacylated PIM species were recognized by MDM lectins better than tetra-acylated species and the degree of acylation influenced higher-order PIM association with the MR. Moreover, only higher-order PIMs that bind the MR showed a significant increase in phagosome-lysosome fusion upon MR blockade. In contrast with the MR, the PIM2f and lipomannan were recognized by DC-SIGN comparable to higher-order PIMs and ManLAM, and the association was independent of their degree of acylation. Thus, recognition of M.tb PIMs by host cell C-type lectins is dependent on both the nature of the terminal carbohydrates and degree of acylation. Subtle structural differences among the PIMs impact host cell recognition and response and are predicted to influence the intracellular fate of M.tb.
Test of Tree Core Sampling for Screening of Toxic Elements in Soils from a Norwegian Site

Tree core samples have been used to delineate organic subsurface plumes. In 2009 and 2010, samples were taken at trees growing on a former dump site in Norway and analyzed for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn). Concentrations in wood were in averages (dw) 30 mg/kg for Zn, 2 mg/kg for Cu, and <1 mg/kg for Cd, Cr, As and Ni. The concentrations in wood samples from the polluted test site were compared to those derived from a reference site. For all except one case, mean concentrations from the test site were higher than those from the reference site, but the difference was small and not always significant. Differences between tree species were usually higher than differences between reference and test site. Furthermore, all these elements occur naturally, and Cu, Ni, and Zn are essential minerals. Thus, all trees will have a natural background of these elements, and the occurrence alone does not indicate soil pollution. For the interpretation of the results, a comparison to wood samples from an unpolluted reference site with same species and similar soil conditions is required. This makes the tree core screening method less reliable for heavy metals than, e.g., for chlorinated solvents.
Electromagnetic wave attenuation for propagation through a forest belt

Some theoretical and experimental results on the attenuation of electromagnetic wave propagating through a forest belt are presented. A theoretical model proposed for evaluating the wave field amplitude is based on the Kirchhoff-Fresnel principle. It concerns with both the horizontal and vertical polarizations, relevant wave diffraction problems being solved in the two-dimensional approximation. An experimental study was carried out at the frequency of 0.6 GHz. The transmitter was located in front of the belt edge at the distance of 25 m, being positioned at the heights of 5, 11, and 16 m above the ground, while the receiver, placed at the height of 2 m, was being moved through the forest belt and further on to the point located at the distance of 60-120 m from the rear edge of the forest belt. The latter had about 100 m in width, and was situated 150 km to the northwest from the city of Ulan-Ude near Baikal lake, being consisted mostly of the birch and cedar trees. The height and diameter of trees varied from 10 to 15 m and from 0.15 to 0.25 m, respectively, with the average density of those being of 0.3 trees/m2. All measurements were conducted in August 2003. The magnitude of wave field was found to attenuate with the distance from transmitter as an exponential function. In the case of vertical polarization, the rates of attenuation were measured of 0.2-0.5 dB/m and of 0.05-0.08 dB/m, as related to the wave paths located inside the forest belt and behind it, respectively. As expected, the rate of attenuation for the wave with horizontal polarization was found 0.1-0.15 dB/m below that relating to the vertical polarization. Finally, the relative contributions of specific partial components to the total amplitude of wave field were analyzed, using the theoretical model proposed
Type VIII collagen from bovine Descemet's membrane: structural characterization of a triple-helical domain.

Bovine corneal Descemet's membrane (DM) was subjected to limited pepsin digestion. Soluble native collagens were fractionated by differential salt precipitation, and a mixture of type V collagen and collagenous fragments with a chain Mr of 50,000 (50K) was obtained at a concentration of 1.5 M NaCl. Further purification of the 50K collagen by molecular sieve and high-performance liquid chromatography resulted in the isolation of two-non-disulfide-bonded polypeptides, 50K-A and 50K-B, which were susceptible to several neutral proteases, including bacterial collagenase. By the criteria of peptide mapping, amino acid composition, and N-terminal sequence analysis, 50K-A and 50K-B were structurally dissimilar, although both chains contained Gly-X-Y repeats. 50K-A and 50K-B were immunologically and structurally distinct from collagen type I, III, IV, V, and VI. Immunohistochemical studies of bovine ocular tissue showed preferential distribution of the collagen containing the 50K fragment in the DM, with a more disperse arrangement of apparently interconnecting fibrils in the corneal stroma. Type VIII collagen isolated from the culture medium of metabolically radiolabeled bovine corneal endothelial (BCE) cells and its pepsin-resistant Mr 50 000 domain(s) both cross-reacted with antisera to 50K polypeptides from the corneal DM. Additionally, the CNBr peptide maps of pepsin-resistant Mr 50 000 polypeptides of type VIII collagen isolated from BCE cells and bovine corneal DM were highly similar. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Vimentin as an Integral Regulator of Cell Adhesion and Endothelial Sprouting

Angiogenesis is a multistep process that requires intricate changes in cell shape to generate new blood vessels. IF are a large family of proteins that play an important structural and functional role in forming and regulating the cytoskeleton. Vimentin, a major type III intermediate filament protein is expressed in endothelial and other mesenchymal cells. The structure of vimentin is conserved in mammals and shows dynamic expression profiles in various cell types and different developmental stages. Although initial studies with vimentin‐deficient mice demonstrated a virtually normal phenotype, subsequent studies have revealed several defects in cell attachment, migration, signaling, neurite extension, and vascularization. Regulation of vimentin is highly complex and is driven by posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation and cleavage by intracellular proteases. This review discusses various novel functions which are now known to be mediated by vimentin, summarizing structure, regulation and roles of vimentin in cell adhesion, migration, angiogenesis, neurite extension, and cancer. We specifically highlight a pathway involving growth factor‐mediated calpain activation, vimentin cleavage, and MT1‐MMP membrane translocation that is required for endothelial cell invasion in 3D environments. This pathway may also regulate the analogous processes of neurite extension and tumor cell invasion.
SNP markers-based map construction and genome-wide linkage analysis in Brassica napus.

An Illumina Infinium array comprising 5306 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers was used to genotype 175 individuals of a doubled haploid population derived from a cross between Skipton and Ag-Spectrum, two Australian cultivars of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). A genetic linkage map based on 613 SNP and 228 non-SNP (DArT, SSR, SRAP and candidate gene markers) covering 2514.8 cM was constructed and further utilized to identify loci associated with flowering time and resistance to blackleg, a disease caused by the fungus Leptosphaeria maculans. Comparison between genetic map positions of SNP markers and the sequenced Brassica rapa (A) and Brassica oleracea (C) genome scaffolds showed several genomic rearrangements in the B. napus genome. A major locus controlling resistance to L. maculans was identified at both seedling and adult plant stages on chromosome A07. QTL analyses revealed that up to 40.2% of genetic variation for flowering time was accounted for by loci having quantitative effects. Comparative mapping showed Arabidopsis and Brassica flowering genes such as Phytochrome A/D, Flowering Locus C and agamous-Like MADS box gene AGL1 map within marker intervals associated with flowering time in a DH population from Skipton/Ag-Spectrum. Genomic regions associated with flowering time and resistance to L. maculans had several SNP markers mapped within 10 cM. Our results suggest that SNP markers will be suitable for various applications such as trait introgression, comparative mapping and high-resolution mapping of loci in B. napus.
Performance Improvement in High-Performance Brushless Rare-Earth Magnet Motors for Hybrid Vehicles by Use of High Flux-Density Steel

Hybrid and electrical vehicles use mostly high-efficiency brushless permanent-magnet AC motors and sinewave drives. The motors utilize rare-earth magnet material and also are required to have a very high torque-per-rotor volume. The designs are now very well refined and often use interior permanent-magnet (IPM) rotors for a better field weakening control. This configuration has been shown to increase the efficiency. In this paper, the Toyota Prius 2004 motor is modeled using finite element analysis with different laminated steel materials in order to assess the effectiveness of using high flux-density steel versus the material volume. Additionally to the IPM rotor in the manufactured design, a spoke magnet rotor is also investigated. It is found that using high flux-density laminated steel will either increase the performance of the motor or allow the motor to be reduced in size (in this case, reduction in axial length).
Dual-band CPW-fed G-antenna using an EBG structure

In this paper, a configuration is proposed to improve the performance of CPW antennas placed over an EBG material for dual band on body antenna applications. The aim was to improve the performance of such type of antennas by varying the position of the EBG with respect to the antenna. Simulation results show that the gain of the antenna is improved over the required frequency bands.