Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of Mannose Binding Lectin Polymorphism with Hepatitis C Infection in Northwest of Iran

Background and Aims: Persistent infection with hepatitis C virus leads to liver cirrhosis and often to liver cancer. Mannose binding lectin is a C-type serum lectin, which plays an important role in innate immunity by activating the classical complement pathway. Variants of the mannose binding lectin have been shown to be associated with low serum concentrations of the protein and to predispose the subjects to bacterial, fungal and viral infections. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between hepatitis C virus infection and polymorphisms of mannose binding lectin gene. Methods: We assessed the single nucleotide polymorphism of mannose binding lectin in exon 1, at codon 52, codon 54 and codon 57 in 100 patients infected with hepatitis C virus and 100 controls in Iranian population. Mannose binding lectin gene mutations were determined by means of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. Results: The occurrence of the codon 54 mutation was significantly higher in patients (OR 3.53, CI 95%: 1.94-6.44, p<0.005). No significant difference in the frequency of codon 52 and 57 mutations was observed between patient and control groups. Conclusions: Mannose binding lectin may be one of the factors that influence the course of HCV infection. Our results suggest that heterozygous carriage of the variant allele of codon 54 of mannose binding lectin is associated with hepatitis C virus infection in our cases. This may not be true about codons 52 and 57 mutations.
Chapter 2 Smart Coordination Approach for Power Management and Loss Minimization in Distribution Networks with PEV Penetration Based on Real Time Pricing

The impact of Plug in Electric Vehicles (PEV) will be most significantly felt by the electric power distribution networks, and specifically by distribution transformers that exist on each neighborhood block and cul-de-sac as customers charge their PEVs. That impact is unlikely to be positive. Since PEV adoption is initially expected to cluster in neighborhoods where demand for PEVs is strongest, the new load may overload transformers, sap much-needed distribution capacity and also increase distribution network losses. Hence, the national goal of putting one million PEVs on the road by 2015 could easily impose a severe burden on the distribution network. Whether PEVs will help or hinder electricity provision will depend on how frequently and at what times the customers charge their vehicles. This behavior will be driven in part by the rate structures that are offered by utilities, as well as the price responsiveness of PEV owners to those rate structures. In this chapter, we propose a method to optimally charge the PEVs in order to minimize the system distribution network losses and to maximize energy transferred to PEVs. A novel short term prediction unit consisting of a receding time horizon method is proposed to forecast the PEV load and a multi objective bacterial foraging algorithm is used as an optimization tool. Also it is interesting to study the manner in which distribution network losses vary with PEV charging behavior. Hence the purpose of this chapter is to demonstrate a power management strategy using smart coordination approach to (a) design a charging and discharging infrastructure for the PEVs that maximizes energy delivered to PEV batteries and (b) reduce the distribution network losses to avoid overloading of the grid. B. Ramachandran (&) A. Geng Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, USA e-mail: bramachandran@uwf.edu A. Geng e-mail: xgeng@uwf.edu © Springer Science+Business Media Singapore 2015 S. Rajakaruna et al. (eds.), Plug In Electric Vehicles in Smart Grids, Power Systems, DOI 10.1007/978-981-287-302-6_2 25
Witricity: Design And Implementation Of A Wireless Power Transfer System Via Inductive Coupling

Power transmission is the movement of energy from its place of generation to a location where it is applied to performing useful work. Power is defined formally as units of energy per unit time (the S.I unit of power is Watt (Wolfson, 2014). In this study I have considered electrodynamics or inductive coupling. An inductive link is formed by a loosely coupled transformer consisting of a pair of coils that are usually placed in a coaxial arrangement. The external or the primary coil is excited by an alternating current, and thus an electromagnetic field is produced with its magnitude dependent on the dimensions of the coil, the drive current and the frequency of operation. A portion of the alternating flux lines generated this way link to the internal or the secondary coil, and the change in flux linkage produces a voltage in the secondary coil, which is proportional to the rate of change of the flux and the number of turns in the secondary coil (Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction) (Matias, Cunha, & Martins, 2013) (Tapan & Sarkar, 2006). Hardware design for the receiver and transmitter coil is shown and finally the comparative graph is plotted and the efficiency of the system is also computed by comparing the input and output voltage of the system. This project addresses the following problems (Pranit, 2013):  The use of wire cable (power cords) in powering electronic devices such as power adapter or chargers used for mobile gadgets, laptops, home appliances etc. most times makes homes and offices looks so messy.  Most times managing a socket outlet becomes difficult and leads to damaged socket outlet even with the use of socket extensions, since most consumers usually have more electronic devices than socket outlets.  Another problem is the cost of purchasing new batteries and socket extensions when they are damaged. This project is aimed at testing how a contactless power transfer system works via inductive coupling between two Abstract: In this work Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) System using inductive coupling technique is presented. The project work was in two phase, the transmitting and receiving circuit. The transmitting circuit consist of a booster circuit (DC-DC boost converter) consisting of an IRF 540 transistor, a 9V battery, and a transmitting coil. The receiving circuit consist of a receiving coil with an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The transmitting and receiving circuits was set up and tests were carried out. The circuit was energized by a 9V battery, readings were taken using a multimeter. The test results were carried out at different distances, from 0 cm to 10 cm. The results showed that the transfer of power wirelessly using this setup is possible up to 8 cm distance. At distances above 8cm there was no sufficient power transferred as to power the LED. With this result, it is therefore possible for WiTricity to be incorporated in future systems where devices needs to be powered at a short range wirelessly.
Automated mutation screening using dideoxy fingerprinting and capillary array electrophoresis

The rapid progress in the isolation of genes associated with human disease has resulted in an increasing demand for mutation screening methods. The molecular diagnosis of the long QT syndrome (LQTS), a cardiac disorder characterized by prolongation of the QTc interval in the ECG, syncopes, and sudden death, requires mutation screening of all exons in at least five genes, encoding cardiac Na+ and K+ channel subunits. A method for automated dideoxy fingerprinting (ddF) using capillary array electrophoresis (CAE) was developed and the efficiency of the method was tested by analyzing 24 DNA samples with mutations in one of the genes KCNQ1 and KCNH2, which are involved in 50% of LQTS cases. One of these mutations, 362insQK in KCNQ1, is novel. The sensitivity was 100% using a single electrophoresis temperature of 18°C or 25°C. However, analysis of the samples in both the sense and anti‐sense direction were required for high sensitivity. Analysis in a single direction resulted in a decrease of the sensitivity to 74% and 70%, respectively. The throughput of the ddF method, if performed with a 16 capillary CAE instrument, is 288 samples per seven hr if each sample is analyzed on both strands. Hum Mutat 18:451–457, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The expression of GABAAβ subunit isoforms in synaptic and extrasynaptic receptor populations of mouse dentate gyrus granule cells

The subunit composition of GABAA receptors influences their biophysical and pharmacological properties, dictates neuronal location and the interaction with associated proteins, and markedly influences the impact of intracellular biochemistry. The focus has been on α and γ subunits, with little attention given to β subunits. Dentate gyrus granule cells (DGGCs) express all three β subunit isoforms and exhibit both synaptic and extrasynaptic receptors that mediate ‘phasic’ and ‘tonic’ transmission, respectively. To investigate the subcellular distribution of the β subunits we have utilized the patch‐clamp technique to compare the properties of ‘tonic’ and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) recorded from DGGCs of hippocampal slices of P20–26 wild‐type (WT), β2−/−, β2N265S (etomidate‐insensitive), α1−/− and δ−/− mice. Deletion of either the β2 or the δ subunit produced a significant reduction of the tonic current and attenuated the increase of this current induced by the δ subunit‐preferring agonist 4,5,6,7‐tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4‐c]pyridin‐3‐ol (THIP). By contrast, mIPSCs were not influenced by deletion of these genes. Enhancement of the tonic current by the β2/3 subunit‐selective agent etomidate was significantly reduced for DGGCs derived from β2N265S mice, whereas this manipulation had no effect on the prolongation of mIPSCs produced by this anaesthetic. Collectively, these observations, together with previous studies on α4−/− mice, identify a population of extrasynaptic α4β2δ receptors, whereas synaptic GABAA receptors appear to primarily incorporate the β3 subunit. A component of the tonic current is diazepam sensitive and is mediated by extrasynaptic receptors incorporating α5 and γ2 subunits. Deletion of the β2 subunit had no effect on the diazepam‐induced current and therefore these extrasynaptic receptors do not contain this subunit. The unambiguous identification of these distinct pools of synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors should aid our understanding of how they act in harmony, to regulate hippocampal signalling in health and disease.
DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF PILE FOUNDATION IN LIQUEFACTION PROCESS-SHAKING TABLE TESTS UTILIZING BIG SHEAR BOX

1 Building Research Institute, Ministry of Construction, 1 Tatehara, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan 2 Research and Development Institute, Takenaka Co., 1-5, Ohtsuka, Inzai, Chiba, Japan 3 Institute of Construction Technology, Kumagai Gumi Co., LTD, 1043 Onigafuchi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan 4 Building Research Institute, Ministry of Construction, 1 Tatehara, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan 5 Building Research Institute, Ministry of Construction, 1 Tatehara, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF PILE FOUNDATION IN LIQUEFACTION PROCESS SHAKING TABLE TESTS UTILIZING BIG SHEAR BOX
Surveillance , insecticide resistance and control of an invasive ( Diptera : Culicidae ) population in California Aedes aegypti

The invasion and subsequent establishment in California of in Aedes aegypti 2013 has created new challenges for local mosquito abatement and vector control districts. Studies were undertaken to identify effective and economical strategies to monitor the abundance and spread of this mosquito species as well as for its control. Overall, BG Sentinel (BGS) traps were found to be the most sensitive trap type to measure abundance and spread into new locations. Autocidal-Gravid-Ovitraps (AGO-B), when placed at a site for a week, performed equally to BGS in detecting the presence of female Ae. aegypti. Considering operational cost and our findings, we recommend use of BGS traps for surveillance in response to service requests especially in locations outside the known infestation area. We recommend AGO-Bs be placed at fixed sites, cleared and processed once a week to monitor mosquito abundance within a known infestation area. Long-term high density placements of AGO-Bs were found to show promise as an environmentally friendly trap-kill control strategy. California were found to be homozygous for the V1016I Ae. aegypti mutation in the voltage gated sodium channel gene, which is implicated to be involved in insecticide resistance. This strain originating from Clovis, California was resistant to some pyrethroids but not to deltamethrin in bottle bio-assays. Sentinel cage ultra-low-volume (ULV) trials using a new formulation of deltamethrin (DeltaGard®) demonstrated that it provided some control (average of 56% death in sentinel cages in a 91.4 m spray swath) after a single truck mounted aerial ULV application in residential areas. This article is included in the Zika & Arbovirus channel. Outbreaks 1 2 3 3
Phytochemical Screening , Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Potential of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L . Floral Extracts

Methanolic extracts of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. flower showed the presence of flavonoid, saponins, alkaloids and coumarins in qualitative phytochemical analysis. The extract showed total flavonoid and saponins content as 50.46 mg quercetin equivalent/gram of extract and 232 mg of saponins (dry weight)/20g of extract, respectively. Methanolic extract of N. arbor-tristis showed less inhibition against Escherichia coli (11 mm/5 mg) and the maximum inhibition was found against Bacillus subtilis (15 mm/5 mg) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (16 mm/5 mg). Antioxidant activity of methanolic extract exhibited a significant dose dependent inhibition of DPPH, ABTS and nitric oxide activity. The 50% of Inhibition (IC50) was found at a concentration of 1000, 1200 and 400 μg/mL for DPPH, ABTS and nitric acid respectively.
Cell density and solvent are critical parameters affecting formazan evaluation in MTT assay

The aim of this study was to establish the more accurate protocol for fibroblast cell viability using MTT assay. NIH/3T3 fibroblasts were seeded at the following cell densities: 3.125x103; 1.156x104; 3.125x104; 1.156x105 and 3.125x105 cells/cm2. Following 24h of seeding, MTT was added to the wells. After 4h of the MTT addition, different solvents were added to solubilize the formazan crystals: 1) HCl/SDS group- 20% SDS and 0.01 M HCl; 2) EtOH/ HAc group-50% ethanol and 1% acetic acid; 3) DMSO group- 99.5% dimethyl sulfoxide; and 4) PropOH group- 99.5% isopropanol. The absorbance values were measured using a spectrophotometer at 570 nm. The data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA (p<0.05) and showed that the absorbance average varied according to the number of cells and solvents: HCl/SDS (0 to 0.13), EtOH/HAc (0 to 0.22), DMSO (0.76 to 1.31) and PropOH (0.66 to 1.04). The DMSO and PropOH groups presented the most appropriate protocols for NIH/3T3 fibroblasts cell viability, especially at the density of 1.156x104 cells/cm2.
Chapter 2 Microwave Instruments for Observing Tropical Cyclones

Development of microwave technologies and our ability to penetrate into Tropical Cyclones (TCs) by instrumented aircraft and observe from satellites have contributed much of the knowledge and understanding that exist today. We can now follow the structure and development of a storm from inception through the many stages towards a dangerous typhoon, hurricane or cyclone, as they are variously called around the globe. The data from satellite microwave radiometers, scatterometers, altimeters, Synthetic Aperture Radars (SARs), microwave sounders, a rain radar and a cloud profiling radar as well as coastal radars, airborne radars and microwave radiometers have all contributed to changing the fields of both TC research and TC operational forecasting.
Sparsity Regularized RLS Adaptive Filtering

We propose a new approach for the adaptive identification of s parse systems. This approach improves on the Recursive Least Squares (RLS) algorithm by adding a sp arsity inducing weightedl1 norm penalty to the RLS cost function. Subgradient analysis is utilized t o evelop the recursive update equations for the calculation of the optimum system estimate which minimizes the regularized cost function. Two new algorithms are introduced by considering two different wei ghting scenarios for thel1 norm penalty. These newl1 relaxation based RLS algorithms emphasize sparsity during the adaptive filtering process, and they allow for faster convergence than standard RLS when the system under consideration is sparse. We test the performance of the novel algorithms and compare i t to standard RLS and other adaptive algorithms for sparse system identification. Simulations d emonstrate that the new algorithms exploit the inherent sparse structure effectively.
Turbocharging medium speed diesel engines with extreme Miller timing

Miller timing is one of the few measures that can be applied in an internal combustion engine to simultaneously reduce NOx emissions and fuel consumption – a fact engine builders are acknowledging by introducing it on almost all types of engine. ABB’s new-generation turbochargers allow operation at very high pressure ratios and with very high turbocharger efficiencies. Engine builders can use the new potential these turbochargers offer either to improve the Miller process or to further increase engine output. An overview of the theory of the Miller process is followed by a look at how some important parameters of the gas exchange and turbocharging system influence engine operation. Finally, the turbocharging system of a medium speed diesel engine with extreme Miller timing up to 60 °CA before BDC is presented.
MORPHO-ANATOMICAL PLASTICITY OF STYLOSANTHES VISCOSA ( FABACEAE ) IN RESPONSE TO DIFFERENT SOIL AND LIGHT CONDITIONS OF RESTINGA ENVIRONMENTS

Structural plasticity is an important ability of plants to acclimate to different environmental conditions, especially in limiting environments such as restingas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morpho-anatomical plasticity of Stylosanthes viscosa (L.) Sw. (Fabaceae) populations based on the hypothesis that edaphic and luminous factors cause different structural adjustments, such that, in the restinga, herbaceous plants would be more xeromorphic than shrub-tree plants. The study area included formations of herbaceous and shrub-arboreal restinga of Acaraí State Park, located in São Francisco do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Morpho-anatomical attributes of 10 individuals per formation were compared with the t-test. Principal components analysis was used to evaluate the influence of environmental factors on S. viscosa (L.) Sw. populations. In both formations, organic matter content had the greatest influence on adjustments exhibited by the species, with greater emphasis on plant height, stem diameter, fresh mass, dry mass, leaf area and specific leaf area. Morphological attributes exhibited greater plasticity than anatomical attributes. The population of the herbaceous restinga was observed to be more xeromorphic, exhibiting greater investment in mechanical tissues, as opposed to the shrub-arboreal restinga population, which exhibited greater investment in photosynthetic tissues. The results demonstrate the strong influence that soil and light have on the morpho-anatomical plasticity of S. viscosa (L.) Sw. in restinga environments.
Two-Year-Olds Distinguish Pretending and Joking.

Although children understand intentions to joke and pretend by 2 or 3 years, it is unclear whether they distinguish these intentional acts. Using a normativity paradigm, this study found (N = 72) 2-year-olds protest against jokes more than pretending, suggesting, for the first time, they distinguish these acts. Furthermore, toddlers protested more generally after pretend than literal or joke contexts but only if intentional cues were used. Additionally, children objected more to joking than pretending after pretend and literal contexts but not after joke contexts. Thus, toddlers distinguish the intentional nature of pretending and joking. Furthermore, a pretend intentional context establishes specific rules to be followed, whereas a joke intentional context allows an open space to perform various types of acts.
Microbial Community Diversity in Water and Sediment of an Eutrophic Lake during Harmful Algal Bloom Using MiSeq Illumina Technology

Microbial communities of water and sediment during cyanobacterial bloom in an eutrophic lake were studied for the first time by Miseq sequencing of 16S rDNA gene fragments; Biodiversity of microbial communities and the differences in their composition was revealed. Sphingobacteriia, Cyanobacteria, Phycisphaerae, Chlorobia and Alphaproteobacteria were mostly distributed in water samples, whereas Betaproteobacteria, Anaerolineae, Gammaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteriaere mainly observed in sediment samples. Biodiversity index values indicated that microbial diversity in the sediment sample was a slight higher than in the water sample, and there were 278 OTUs overlapped. Present findings may indicate that cyanobacterial blooms can regulate the microbial community structure and diversity.
Extended-MHD modeling of tokamak disruptions and resistive wall modes with M3D-C1

Introduction Disruptive instabilities in tokamaks are often strongly affected by the coupling between the plasma and surrounding conducting structures. This coupling plays an important role in both the linear threshold of disruptive instabilities such as resistive wall modes (RWMs), and also in the subsequent nonlinear evolution of the disruption, which generally involves a large and rapid displacement of the plasma and penetration of magnetic flux through the wall. A new capability to model these interactions using the extended-MHD code M3D-C1 [1, 2] has recently been demonstrated [3]. This model includes the capability to model resistive walls of arbitrary thickness, to spatially resolve current density in the wall, and to allow currents to flow from the plasma to the wall and back. Both eddy currents induced in the wall by the plasma motion and Halo currents driven on magnetic field lines that intersect the wall are naturally captured in this model. Here we show recent applications of this model to RWMs and vertical displacement events (VDEs) in tokamaks. It is found that the electromagnetic forces on the wall due to the VDE are weakly sensitive to the wall conductivity, although the impulse delivered to the wall increases with the wall conductivity. A current spike is also routinely observed in the simulations when the vertical motion of the plasma is halted upon impact with the upper or lower divertor. The three-dimensional evolution of the plasma undergoing an initially axisymmetric VDE is also explored. Furthermore, the effect of rotation on RWMs is considered. It is found that the RWM may be fully stabilized by rotation, and that the growth rate essentially follows the quadratic dependence on rotation predicted in the thick-wall limit [4].