Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative transcriptome analysis of hard and tender fruit spines of cucumber to identify genes involved in morphological development of fruit spines

Background: The trichomes of cucumber fruits are also called spines. Cucumber has important commercial value, and its fruit spines represent a classical tissue with which to study the cell division and differentiation mode of multicellular trichomes. Although there have been many studies on the development of unicellular trichomes in model plants, the molecular mechanism of multicellular trichome formation remains elusive. In this study, we used a pair of cucumber materials defined as having hard (Ts, wild type) or tender (ts, mutant) spines in a previous study. The whole developmental process of fruit spines was continuously observed by microscopy and SEM. In an attempt to define the developmental stages of fruit spines, transcriptome profiles at different stages were determined to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the process of spine development. Results: According to significant phenotypic differences, the developmental process of fruit spines was clearly defined as involving four stages. Comparison of transcriptome profiles showed that 803 and 722 genes were upregulated in the stalk (stage II and stage III) and base (stage IV) developmental stages of fruit spines, respectively. Functional analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed that for all developmental stages of fruit spines, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and signal transduction were the most noticeable pathways. However, during the development of the stalk, genes related to auxin polar transport and HD-ZIP transcription factors were significantly upregulated. bHLH transcription factors and cytoskeleton-related genes were significantly upregulated during the development of the base. In addition, stage III was the key point for differentiating between the wild type and mutant. We detected 628 DEGs between the wild type and mutant at this stage. These DEGs are mainly involved in calcium signaling of the cytoskeleton and auxin polar transport, indicating that the main reason for the disorder of the fruit spine developmental pattern in the mutant was a change in cell polarity caused by blocked intercellular signal transmission.Conclusions: Our study defines in great detail the developmental stages of cucumber fruit spines. At the same time, transcriptome profiles are used to present the gene regulatory networks at different developmental stages of cucumber fruit spines. In addition, we analyzed transcriptomic data of a wild type and mutant to elucidate the biological pathways involving C-type lectin receptor-like kinase that regulate the development of fruit spines.
Molecular Dynamics of Mycolic Acid Monolayers

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the organism responsible for TB infection in humans, is inherently resilient against host defences and anti-TB drugs. This persistence is attributed partly to the presence of lipids, such as mycolic acids (MAs), which make the cell wall impermeable. To study the conformational dynamics of MAs, we present a coarse-grained model for a representative α-MA (AMA) from Mycobacterium tuberculosisusing the MARTINI force field. The model is used to simulate monolayers of different sizes; a small monolayer consisting of 220 MAs and a large monolayer consisting of 1972 MAs. The model could replicate key features of experimental monolayers such as phase changes and the collapse point. By studying the conformation of MAs in the simulated monolayers, it was found that AMA did not fold into the W-conformation at large surface areas but was only folded at the head group to give a wide U-shape. On monolayer compression, the MA chains came closer together, into a narrower U-shape, and an ordered monolayer was formed before it collapsed.
SAFETY, COMFORT, AND OPTIMAL TRACKING CONTROL IN AHS

In this paper, the authors present a self-contained intelligent vehicle controller, known as the Autonomous Vehicle Diving System (AVDS), for use on a limited-access highway. The AVDS has a two-level decision structure: the top level analyzes the traffic situation and determines a driving mode. The bottom level uses predictive control and computes the real-time control signal, based on the chosen driving mode. An interface is used to couple decision and control levels.
Reproductive Efficiency, Milk Production, Health Status, Antioxidant Capacity, Lipid Profile, and Metabolic Hormones of Lactating Cows Treated with Coenzyme Q10 and L-Carnitine

| The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and L-carnitine (LC) on the reproductive performance, milk production, and health status of lactating cows. Multiparous Friesian cows (n=21) with 2-4 parities at late pregnancy were divided into three groups (7 in each). Cows in the first group were fed a basal ration (control, G1), while those in G2 and G3 were fed the same diet and received an oral dose of 1.5 mg CoQ10 and 100 mg LC per kg BW, respectively. Treatment lasted for 30 d prepartum to 120 d postpartum. Results show that LC increased (P<0.05) daily milk yield, body weight of dams and their calves at calving, serum total proteins, albumin, globulin, glucose, total lipids, total cholesterol, triglycerides, triiodothyronine (T3), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin, glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, erythrocyte, and leukocyte counts, as well as hemoglobin and packed cell volume (PCV) concentration. On the other hand, placental drop, uterine involution, days to cervical closer, postpartum 1st estrus interval, service period and the number of services/conception, days open, calving interval, serum cortisol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were decreased (P<0.05) by LC treatment. Treatment of CoQ10 followed the beneficial effects of LC treatment on most parameters studied. In conclusion, oral pre-and post-partum administration of LC (100 mg/kg BW) may use as a useful tool for improving milk production and reproductive efficiencies, energy metabolism, and antioxidant status of lactating cows during the early postpartum period.
A MULTIVARIABLE NEURAL NETWORK SHIP MATHEMATICAL MODEL

The classical approach to modelling the dynamic behaviour of rigid bodies is to express their behaviour as a set of simultaneous linear and non-linear differential equations, and to obtain a solution for various input simuli. An alternative approach is that of system identification whereby a given input such as a sinusoid or pseudo- random binary sequence is applied to the real system and from a set of input/output measurements a mathematical model may be obtained. This paper investigates the generation of a state variable representation of a ship in three degrees of freedom by the application of an artificial neural network.
Glaucoma and diabetes: A review

Glaucoma is ranked second amongst the causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global public health concern with numerous microvascular complications. There is increasing evidence to suggest that diabetic patients have greater risk of glaucoma as well. This review article discusses the pathogenesis of glaucoma especially when associated with diabetes mellitus and how this knowledge can help decrease the burden of loss of vision in diabetic patients due to Glaucoma.
Pulsed-Bias Pulsed-RF Passive Load-Pull Measurement of an X-Band GaN HEMT Bare-chip

In this paper, a passive load-pull using a GaN HEMT (Gallium Nitride High Electron Mobility Transistor) bare-chip in X-band is presented. To obtain operation conditions that characteristic change by self-heating was minimized, pulsed drain bias voltage and pulsed-RF signal is employed. An accuracy impedance matching circuits considered parasitic components such as wire-bonding effect at the boundary of the drain is accomplished through the use of a electro-magnetic simulation and a circuit simulation. The microstrip line length-tunable matching circuit is employed to adjust the impedance. The measured maximum output power and drain efficiency of the pulsed load-pull are 42.46 dBm and 58.7%, respectively, across the 8.5-9.2 GHz band.
Early plant defense-related responses triggered by a novel glycoprotein from Streptomycin

Background A novel glycoprotein from Streptomyces sp. ZX01, GP-1, has high activity against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). With small molecular weight and water-soluble characteristics, GP-1 has tremendous commercial value. Though previous study indicated a plant immunity-inducing effect, the antiviral mechanism of GP-1 is still unclear. Results In this study, early plant defense-related responses, such as Ca2+ transient peak, callose apposition, oxidative burst, hypersensitive response (HR), programmed cell death (PCD), NO rising and stomatal closure, were thoroughly investigated and we studied the mechanism of how GP-1 can induce virus resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana in additional detail. Results showed that GP-1 could induce [Ca2+]cyt rapidly both in tobacco leaves and suspension cells, followed by ROS and NO elevation. Similar with typical pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), GP-1 induces callose deposition and stomatal closure to form defense barriers for pathogen invasion. The expression of defense-related genes further supported these phenomena. The gene with CAM5 was obtained by RNA sequencing in Nicotiana benthamiana. Conclusions Through analyses of expression of SA, JA and CAM5, it was shown that GP-1 enhanced the virus resistance of tobacco by improving expression of CAM5 and the SA and JA content.
Investment in art companies: a proxy for physical art?

An equally-weighted basket of six quoted companies related to art is created and compared with three hedonic art indices built using more than 75000 auction sales for 99 artists. We find that returns of art-related equities are not directly linked to returns of median and top prices of physical art, but are positively correlated to returns of the 5% cheapest artworks. They are also positively correlated to changes in volumes at auction, once a 6 months lag is taken into account.
Best Practices in Project Delivery Management

Transportation agencies are experiencing unprecedented pressure to deliver projects for constituents. Many factors contribute to this high-demand environment, including increasing congestion, reduced work periods for construction, workforce issues, intense public interest and involvement, and severe revenue pressures. Agencies are seeking ways to deliver projects in the most efficient and expeditious manner possible. The search for solutions to this situation has been a topic of intense interest for those involved in both this domestic scan program and its international counterpart for many years. No fewer than ten proposed topics were aggregated to create the topic for this particular domestic scan. The team-defined Best Practices are those strategies and project-delivery applications that contributed to a state’s success in delivering projects. Many of those cited in this report are clearly best among the best. The analysis conducted for the desk scan refined the list of states for this scan based on several criteria: 1. Program size, 2. Work complexity, 3. Metrics systems, and 4. Performance against those metrics. Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Utah, Virginia, and Washington were chosen for visits due to a history of project delivery innovations and management. The team also visited the City of Phoenix while in Arizona. The scan team developed a hypothesis that common practices would be found among the selected states and that those common practices would exist in key areas of each agency’s organization and process. The scan-team defined four focus areas: 1. Project management –including the wide array of management activities associated with project delivery; 2. Performance measures–the tools used to measure, track, and adjust behavior; 3. Innovative contracting practices–The team sought innovative practices with demonstrable results; 4. Community involvement activities–including outcomes from project inception through the end of construction. The team developed and sent amplifying questions to the agencies prior to the visits to allow them to center their preparations on the specific areas of interest to this scan topic.
Oddziaływanie przepięć atmosferycznych na bezpieczniki SN: badania wstępne

Streszczenie: Obserwowane są liczne przypadki blednego dzialania w czasie burz bezpiecznikow SN chroniących transformatory slupowe SN/nn. W artykule przedstawiono wyniki eksperymentow i symulacji wplywu przepiecia atmosferycznego na zachowanie sie bezpiecznikow SN. ZauwaŜono, Ŝe udary krotsze niŜ okolo 15 ms nie powodują znacznego zwiekszenia calki Joule`a prądu plynącego przez bezpiecznik mogącego doprowadzic do jego zadzialania. Choc w rzeczywistości prądy piorunowe trwają znacznie krocej, to ze wzgledu na czeste wyladowania wielokrotne efekt dośc dlugiego, zastepczego impulsu nie jest nieuzasadniony. Wyniki eksperymentu laboratoryjnego i symulacji dla transformatora 3–fazowego potwierdzają moŜliwośc nieprawidlowego dzialania bezpiecznikow w czasie burz, rejestrowanego w praktyce i potwierdzonego badaniami dla transformatorow 1–fazowych.
Whole life costing optimisation with integrated logistics support considerations.

It has long been recognised that, in the military sector, the Integrated Logistics Support ILS can significantly enhance system effectiveness and add value to their competitiveness. Hence, it is not surprising that many organisations outside to the military support the ILS adoption to increase their competence level. Even though the ILS underlying theory is general, there is a lack of suitable methodology that facilitates ILS implementation in other industries such as Oil & Gas industry. In particular when considering complex systems with long life-span, the optimisation of maintenance-related activities is important to fulfil system readiness, safety and whole life cost requirements. Modern petroleum equipment like gas turbines and drilling rigs are dependent on readily available maintenance supports in order to maximise their operational ability. Therefore, it has been identified that the study should be conducted to an effective use of ILS with the petroleum industry. In doing so, the usage of the ILS framework as a decision tool for maintenance optimisation is outlined. This framework embraces ILS concepts to support asset managers in developing their maintenance strategies. Level of repair analysis and spare parts management have been identified as potential areas for enhancing the use of ILS. In particular, maintenance optimisation is approached as a trade-off between investment in spare parts level and repair capacity. The developed framework delivers cost-effective support strategies obtained with iterative optimisation algorithm built on heuristics and genetic algorithm techniques. Finally, this algorithm has been implemented into computational algorithms. The framework can be employed to identify the optimum level of spare parts and the optimum amount of repair capacity for multi echelon repair network and multi-indenture systems. The framework has been used to carry out optimisations intended to maximise the availability of gas turbines by varying logistics support parameters. Typical results have shown that a joint optimisation of spare parts and level of repair analysis leads to better results than optimising them separately and emphasises the need for the developed framework. As part of this research, an expert panel validation method has been used to both refine the design of the developed framework and also evaluate its functionality from experienced practitioners within the Algerian petroleum industry. The results of this validation have demonstrated the advantages of integrating spare part management and level of repair analysis LORA to the problem of maintenance optimisation and shown that the framework is able to deliver optimal maintenance supportability decisions. The generic framework developed in this thesis can be seen a novel and comprehensive model for integrating two ILS elements into the operating tool in a manner that improves maintenance support provision, while remaining both flexible and usable; and therefore as a contribution to a better adoption of ILS technique within Algerian Petroleum Industry.
A PRACTICAL METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING RIGID CONDUITS UNDER HIGH FILLS

THIS PAPER GIVES A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE PIPE CULVERTS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CALIF. THESE CULVERTS WERE CONSTRUCTED AS CONVENTIAL POSITIVE PROJECTING CONDUITS, BUT WITH A LAYER OF BALED STRAW PLACED DIRECTLY ON THE PIPE TO CREATE A CONDITION WHEREIN THE CENTRAL PRISM OF SOIL ABOVE THE CONDUIT WOULD SETTLE MORE THAN THE SOIL ADJACENT, THEREBY INSURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF UPWARD SHEARING FORCES; THAT IS, AN ARCHING ACTION, WHICH GREATLY REDUCES THE LOAD ON THE STRUCTURE. THE RESULTING ACTION IS COMPARABLE WITH THAT OBTAINED FOR NEGATIVE PROJECTING CONDUITS (CALIFORNIA METHOD B) OR FOR IMPERFECT DITCH CONDUITS. FAVORABLE RESULTS WERE OBTAINED BY THIS STRAW METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION IN THE CASE OF TWO 54-IN. AND ONE 66-IN. CONCRETE PIPE CULVERTS UNDER FILLS 38 TO 65 FT IN HEIGHT. PERFORMANCE OF THE PIPES WAS MEASURED BY OBSERVING THE DISTORTION OF THESE PIPES COMPARED WITH THE DISTORTION OF SIMILAR PIPES INSTALLED CONVENTIONALLY. DISTORTION IS DEFINED AS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL DIAMETERS OF THE PIPE, EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE THEORETICAL PIPE DIAMETER. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CULVERTS IN WHICH THE BALED STRAW METHOD WAS USED WAS MUCH BETTER THAN THOSE IN WHICH IT WAS NOT USED. /HRB/
NEW METHODS OF CAPACITY DETERMINATION FOR RURAL ROADS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN

A highway need study was conducted in west virginia by reviewing speed studies on highways throughout the state. The operating speed on an existing highway is affected by design speed, traffic volume, and number of lanes. Also, for 2-lane roads, it is affected by the availability of sections on which the sight distance is of sufficient length to perform passing maneuvers safely. In the design of a new highway, it is the one factor which together with the traffic volume and assumed design speed determines the needed geometric features of a highway. An engineering analysis of the highway capacity requires the following information: (1) type of terrain through which the highway is located, (2) average highway speed and frequency of occurrence of sharp curves that cause abnormally low speeds, (3) percentage of the highway on which the passing sight distance exceeds 1500 feet, (4) the average truck factor and the truck factor on all long or steep grades, and (5) cross-section items such as shoulder and surface type, width, and condition. These items were determined for all highways in west virginia expected to carry annual volumes in excess of 1800 vehicles per day within the next 20 years.
A Comparison Study of Magnetic Bearing Controllers for a Fully Suspended Dynamic Spin Rig

NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has developed a fully suspended magnetic bearing system for the Dynamic Spin Rig (DSR) that is used to perform vibration tests of turbomachinery blades and components under spinning conditions in a vacuum. Two heteropolar radial magnetic bearings and a thrust bearing and the associated control system were integrated into the DSR to provide noncontact magnetic suspension and mechanical excitation of the 35 lb vertical rotor with blades to induce turbomachinery blade vibration. A simple proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller with a special feature for multidirectional radial excitation worked very well to both support and shake the shaft with blades. However, more advanced controllers were developed and successfully tested to determine the optimal controller in terms of sensor and processing noise reduction, smaller rotor orbits, and energy savings for the system. The test results of a variety of controllers we demonstrated up to the rig's maximum allowable speed of 10,000 rpm are shown.
Uprooting mechanisms of juvenile vegetation by flow erosion

Keywords: vegetation erosion ; root strength ; sediment reinforcement ; root mechanics ; pullout experiments ; ume experiments ; Avena sativa ; Medicago sativa These Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne EPFL, n° 6146 (2014)Programme doctoral en genie civil et environnementFaculte de l'environnement naturel, architectural et construitInstitut d'ingenierie de l'environnementGroupe PeronaJury: Prof. A. Buttler (president); Prof. P. Perona (directeur); Prof. P. Burlando, Prof. R. Ennos, Dr M. Schwarz (rapporteurs) Public defense: 2014-4-4 Reference doi:10.5075/epfl-thesis-6146Print copy in library catalog Record created on 2014-03-31, modified on 2017-01-21
Frequency Versus Intensity: How Thinking of a Frequent Consumption Indulgence as Social Versus Solitary Affects Preferences for How to Cut Back

Many consumers engage in frequent consumption indulgences. Because such indulgences accumulate resource costs (e.g., money, calories), consumers are often prompted to cut back, posing questions for how to design cutback programs with consumer appeal. This research distinguishes between frequent indulgences that consumers think of as social (vs. solitary), demonstrating that thinking of an indulgence as social (vs. solitary) decreases preferences to cut “frequency” (how often the indulgence occasion occurs) and increases preferences to cut “intensity” (choosing a within-category substitute that involves lower resource expenditure). The author explains these effects by differentiating between enjoyment from the product itself and enjoyment from aspects outside the product. Thinking of an indulgence as social (vs. solitary) heightens people’s anticipated enjoyment, particularly for aspects outside of the product, decreasing interest in cutting the number of occasions (cutting frequency) and increasing interest in cutting back on the product itself via a within-category substitute (cutting intensity). This divergence in cutback preferences for social (vs. solitary) experiences is thus eliminated (1) when consumers think of social experiences with distant (vs. close) others, which involve lower enjoyment outside of the product, or (2) when solitary experiences primarily involve heightened enjoyment for aspects outside of the product.
The Modelling and Position Control of Overhead Cranes

Overhead cranes consist of trolley, girder, rope, objects, trolley motor, girder motor, and hoist motor. If objects are regarded as mass point, and the acceleration of hoisting motion for objects is neglected, analytical model of overhead cranes becomes a nonlinear model because the length of a rope changes. Equations of motion this model is derived of simultaneous differential equations fur motors and object. Positions of the model are controlled by optimal inputs which obtain from a nonlinear optimal control method. From the results of computer simulation, even if initial states of objects suing, it is founded that position of overhead cranes is controlled, and that swing of objects is suppressed.