Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Single cell transcriptomic analysis of the adult mouse pituitary reveals a novel multi-hormone cell cluster and physiologic demand-induced lineage plasticity

The anterior pituitary gland drives a set of highly conserved physiologic processes in mammalian species. These hormonally-controlled processes are central to somatic growth, pubertal transformation, fertility, lactation, and metabolism. Current models, largely built upon candidate gene based immuno-histochemical and mRNA analyses, suggest that each of the seven hormones synthesized by the pituitary is produced by a specific and exclusive cell lineage. However, emerging evidence suggests more complex models of hormone specificity and cell plasticity. Here we have applied massively parallel single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), in conjunction with a set of orthogonal mRNA and protein imaging studies, to systematically map the cellular composition of adult male and female mouse pituitaries at single-cell resolution and in the setting of major physiologic demands. These analyses reveal sex-specific cellular diversity associated with normal pituitary homeostasis, and identify an array of cells with complex complements of hormone-enrichment as well as a series of non-hormone producing interstitial and supporting cell lineages. These scRNA-seq studies identify a major cell population that is characterized by a unique multi-hormone gene expression profile. The detection of dynamic shifts in cellular representations and transcriptome profiles in response to two well-defined physiologic stresses suggests corresponding roles of a number of these clusters in cellular plasticity within the adult pituitary. These studies point to an unanticipated complexity and plasticity in pituitary cellular composition that expands upon current models and concepts of pituitary gene expression and hormone production.
Optimum span length for a PCI-girder expressway bridge

ABSTRACT In the design of PCI-girder bridges, the application of various optimum design methodologies can result in significant cost savings and improved structural performance. However, most of the optimisation techniques focus on the individual components and the overall structural system of the superstructure of the bridge system. Limited studies are carried out in the context of longitudinal and transverse configurations of the members in a particular bridge system. This study identifies the optimum span for the PCI-girder expressway bridge system by adopting longitudinal and transverse arrangement of members as design variables while keeping the cross-section of the girder constant. Using an existing case study bridge structure located in Bangkok, selected parametric studies are carried out to achieve cost optimisation. It is observed that the optimum span range for the PCI-girder bridge is in the range of 25 m (82 ft) to 33 m (108 ft).
Biosphere Reserves’ Management Effectiveness—A Systematic Literature Review and a Research Agenda

Research about biosphere reserves’ management effectiveness can contribute to better understanding of the existing gap between the biosphere reserve concept and its implementation. However, there is a limited understanding about where and how research about biosphere reserves’ management effectiveness has been conducted, what topics are investigated, and which are the main findings. This study addresses these gaps in the field, building on a systematic literature review of scientific papers. To this end, we investigated characteristics of publications, scope, status and location of biosphere reserves, research methods and management effectiveness. The results indicate that research is conceptually and methodologically diverse, but unevenly distributed. Three groups of papers associated with different goals of biosphere reserves were identified: capacity building, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. In general, each group is associated with different methodological approaches and different regions of the world. The results indicate the importance of scale dynamics and trade-offs between goals, which are advanced as important leverage points for the success of biosphere reserves. Building on the gaps identified in the literature, a research agenda is proposed, focusing on the need to investigate mechanisms for holistic research, outcomes and trade-offs, transformations for social-ecological fit and institutions for integrated management across scales.
Unmasking of novel mutations within XK gene that could be used as Diagnostic Markers to Predict McLeod syndrome: Using in silico analysis

Background McLeod neuroacanthocytosis syndrome is a rare X-linked recessive multisystem disorder affecting the peripheral and central nervous systems, red blood cells, and internal organs. Methods We carried out in silico analysis of structural effect of each SNP using different bioinformatics tools to predict substitution influence on protein structural and functional level. Result 2 novel mutations out of 104 nsSNPs that are found to be deleterious effect on the XK structure and function. Conclusion The present study provided a novel insight into the understanding of McLeod syndrome, SNPs occurring in coding and non-coding regions, may lead to RNA alterations and should be systematically verified. Functional studies can gain from a preliminary multi-step approach, such as the one proposed here; we prioritize SNPs for further genetic mapping studies. This will be a valuable resource for neurologists, hematologists, and clinical geneticists on this rare and debilitating disease.
Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Trachycarpus fortunei

Abstract Trachycarpus fortunei (Hook.) H. Wendl. (Fam.: Palmae; Gen.: Trachycarpus) is an evergreen tree that is widely distributed in China. In this study, T. fortunei complete chloroplast (cp) genome was assembled. The total cp genome size of T. fortunei was 158,613 bp in length, containing a large single-copy region of 86,422 bp, a small single-copy region of 17,847 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions of 27,172 bp. The overall GC-content of T. fortunei cp genome was 37.21%. It encodes a total of 109 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 26 tRNA genes, four rRNA genes. Twelve genes contain a single intron and 11 genes have two introns. Phylogenetic analysis results reveal that T. fortunei was closely related to Chamaerops humilis.
The Monotonic Rising and Oscillating of Capillary Driven Flow in Circular Cylindrical Tubes

Among the best-known capillarity phenomena is a capillary rise, the understanding of which is essential in fluidics. Some capillary flows rise monotonically whereas others oscillate, but until now no criteria have been formulated for this scenario. In this paper, the Levine’s capillary rise modelling is computed numerically, then the critical radius of the capillary tube is formulated by using the dimensional method and data fitting for identification of exponent index. The phase space diagram of capillary velocity versus height is obtained for the first time and shows that the phase transition from oscillating to monotonic rising happens when the phase trajectory decreases exponentially to somewhere other than the ”attractor. ” Two general Maple codes of the problem are provided as an essential part of this paper.
Technology and Violence Against Women

Typically, studies have focussed on particular types of technology-facilitated violence as isolated phenomenon. Here, the author examines, more holistically, a range of digital perpetration: by persons unknown, who may be known and are known to female targets. These digital harms should, the author contends, be viewed as part of what Kelly (1988) conceptualised as a ‘continuum of violence’ (and Stanko, 1985 as ‘continuums of unsafety’) to which women are exposed, throughout the course of our lives. These behaviours do not occur in a vacuum. Violence is the cause and effect of inequalities and social control, which manifests structurally and institutionally, offline and online. Technologies are shaped by these forces, and investigating the creation, governance and use of technologies provides insight how violence is enacted, fostered and normalised.
Detection of Visual Field Loss Progression in Glaucoma: An Overview and Food for Thought

The damage to the visual field is the main outcome of glaucoma. Basically, there are two different approaches to establish the rate of the functional loss in this clinical condition: event-based analysis and trend-based analysis. The event-based analysis, that relies on the occurrence of preestablished events to detect the progression of the visual field damage, cannot quantify the decay rate of sensitivity. In turn, the trend-based analysis, that aims to measure the rate of progression according to linear regression models, requires a long follow-up. Despite considerable effort, there is still no consensus on the optimal procedure, and a gold standard is still missing. This paper provides a quick overview of the topic as a tribute to the researchers engaged in this field.
Genetic Diversity of Clinical Bordetella Pertussis ST2 Strains in comparison with Vaccine Reference Strains of India

Pertussis is a highly contagious disease of the respiratory tract caused by Bordetella pertussis, a bacteria that lives in the mouth, nose, and throat. Current study reports the highly accurate complete genomes of two clinical B. pertussis strains from India for the first time. The analysis revealed insertional elements flanked by IS481, which has been previously regarded as the important component for bacterial evolution. The two B. pertussis clinical strains exhibited diversity through genome degradation when compared to whole-cell pertussis vaccine reference strains of India. These isolates harboured multiple genetic virulence traits and toxin subunits, which belonged to sequence type ST2. The genome information of Indian clinical B. pertussis strains will serve as a baseline data to decipher more information on the genome evolution, virulence factors and their role in pathogenesis for effective vaccine strategies.
Results of the contingent valuation to estimate the environmental impacts caused by rock-ash discharge

Este documento muestra los resultados de un ejercicio de valoracion contingente llevado a cabo para evaluar los impactos ambientales causados por la disposicion de 56,000 toneladas de cenizas de roca en la Republica Dominicana en 2003 y 2004. En marzo de 2007, el gobierno dominicano y la Corporacion AES llegaron a un acuerdo legal por USD 6 millones en multas para evitar un largo proceso judicial. La disposicion a pagar por un programa de observacion y monitoreo para prevenir y mitigar los impactos ambientales causados por la ceniza de roca se estimo en USD 194 millones en 2007, reflejando las perdidas de bienestar social experimentadas por la sociedad dominicana en ese momento.
High resolution mapping of protein-chromatin interactions during meiotic recombination in S. cerevisiae

Der Audruck Meiose bezeichnet eine spezielle Zellteilung die bei der Entstehung von Keimzellen wichtig ist. Eine diploide Elternzelle erzeugt dabei haploide Nachkommen, da eine Runde der DNA-replikation von zwei Zellteilungen gefolgt wird. Im Unterschied zur Mitose werden bei der ersten meiotischen Teilung homologe Zentromere von einander getrennt, nicht Schwesterzentromere. Durch die Bildung von Chiasmata, physischer Verbindungen zwischen den Homologen kann ein Gegengewicht zu den Mikrotubulikraften geschaffen werden, wodurch es zur Ausrichtung der Chromosomen in der Metaphaseplatte kommt. Die Entstehung von Chiasmata benotigt einerseits die Initiation der meiotischen Rekombination durch DNA Doppelstrangbruche (DSBs) und andererseits morphologische Veranderungen wie Chromosomenkondensation, Paarung und Synapsis. Obwohl ein direkter Zusammenhang zwischen Kondensation und DSB Bildung postuliert wurde, ist es nicht bekannt, wodurch eine bestimmte Chromatinregion gebrochen wird nicht bekannt. Mit Hilfe von ChIPchip, (genom-weiter Chromatin Immunprecipitation, kombiniert mit Hybridisierung an DNA-Microarrays) konnten wir die Chromosomalen positionen mehrerer Proteine, die in der meiotischen Rekombination und Synapsis von S. cerevisiae eine Rolle spielen recht genau bestimmen. Uberraschender weise lokaliseren die meisten Komponenten, die fur DSB Bruche notig sind, nicht direkt an den Bruchstellen, sondern kolokalisieren mit strukturellen Komponenten der Chromatin Organisation, wie Kohasinen und Axialen Element Komponenten. Diese Beobachtungen deuten auf eine Rolle der dreidimensionalen Faltung des Chromosoms fur die Bruchbildung in der Meiose hin. Komponenten der fruhen meiotischen Reparatur, wie die des MRX Komplexes (Mre11, Rad50, Xrs2) und Com1 wurden auch nicht exklusiv an der Stelle des DSBs gefunden. Auch sie interagieren mit Kohesininteraktionsstellen. In einer Mutante (rad50S) wird allerdings die Interaktion von Com1 mit Chromatin an den DSB Stellen unterbunden, parallel zu fehlender DNA Resektion und generell defekter Reparatur in dieser Mutante. Dieses Ergebnis zeigt eine Rekrutierungsfunktion von Rad50 fur Com1 an, und past zu neuesten Ergebnissen, die Com1 eine direkte Rolle im Prozes der DNA Reparatur am DSB zuschreiben.
ADVICES ON BUDGET MODELS FOR EQUALITY IN HIGH SCHOOLS: THE CASE OF TURKEY

The schools' budgets and the management of budgets is important for the effective maintenance of schools. School budgets are an important tool for ensuring equality within and among schools. In this study which aims to assert a suggestion on budget management model providing equity and decreasing problems, detecting different income and expense relationships in the school's budgets, the associational status of incomes and expenses of 1180 high schools in Turkey has been examined and the views of 60 school members (school principal, teacher, student, parents, school parent association member) about the budget management model have been evaluated. In the study, it was determined that there was a significant relationship between high school budgets and school-parent association budget of the school and the intangible right, movable property, maintenance and repair expenses. While high school principals define the ideal budget model as a model in which the budget is provided by the state and they have a more effective role, other school members consider the budget must be comprised of the contributions of individuals and different institutions other than the state, and different school members also participate in the budget management process in addition to the school principal.
Desenvolvimento e estabilidade de um gel anti-idade com extracto hidroalcoólico de Salvia SP

Introduction: The incessant search for products from nature to apply in the search for treatment, cure or even the well-being associated with the aesthetics itself, has strongly collaborated to deepen the area of study and knowledge, so as to meet the demands of the world population. Objectives: This work aimed at the development and evaluation of the stability of two gels formulations (carbopol and methylcellulose) from the incorporation of the essential oils of the species S. officinalis and S. elegans and their hydroalcoholic extract. Methods: Physicochemical stability, organoleptic gel tests, eye irritability test (HET-CAM test) and Clevenger hydrodistillation were performed to determine the oil yield and to use them as a natural preservative in the gels. Results: As significant results we have: In light cycle tests there was only a color change after 15 days. In freeze / thaw tests there was a change in carbopol gel for S. officinalis in appearance and for S. elegans in pH and appearance, whereas in methylcellulose gel in S. elegans there was only change in pH. The accelerated stability test showed alteration for both gels, in the samples containing carbopol gel there was color change and evaporation of part of the gel, while in methylcellulose the complete dehydration. Conclusions: The samples of the gels with hydroalcoholic extract of S. elegans and S. officinalis in concentrations of 5%, 2.5% and 1.25% obtained good stability according to the tests to which they were submit.
Spillover of Sentiments Between the GCC Stock Markets

This study examines how stock market sentiment in a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stock market may spill over to affect sentiments in other markets in the region. Findings from dynamic conditional correlation models in a generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) framework, traditional Granger causality test and impulse response functions suggest that Kuwait and Qatar stock markets are segregated from other markets in the region. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) markets are well integrated, and any shift in sentiment in either of the two affects the other. Bahrain and Oman are somewhat integrated with the UAE and Saudi stock market sentiments. Thus, when an investor has significant investments in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, he must be aware of any contagion effect—especially in the case of a stock market panic.
Powder mixed-EDM for potential biomedical applications: A critical review

ABSTRACT Powder mixed-electro discharge machining (PM-EDM) is a new emerging trend in research on electro-thermal process that can simultaneously shape and deposit a coating on the surface of the workpiece. PM-EDM is a hybridized form of EDM in which metallic powders are amalgamated in dielectric liquid to enhance both the machined surface condition and machining performance. Migration of materials on the cutting surface occurs by melting and chemical reactions during the operation from both the electrodes and metallic powders. 316L stainless steel, Ti-based alloys, Co-Mo-Cr-based alloys, magnesium and magnesium-based alloys are commonly utilized in manufacturing biomedical devices. These biomaterials, however, release toxic particles due to corrosion, wear, tear, and tiredness of the joint replacements through repeated loads and relative movements. Surfaces of bio-implants made from these biomaterials are therefore protected using bioactive and biocompatible coating. Several methods of deposition are used for coating purposes which have both advantage and drawback. This study proposes that the PM-EDM coating enhances the biomaterials’ mechanical characteristics, surface morphology, and topography. Through reflecting critical and analytical concerns, this review focuses extensively on the current progress of the PM-EDM process. Moreover, following various research initiatives, this paper outlines the critical challenges and future research scopes.
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON BINARIZATION OF NATURAL SCENE WORD IMAGES USING TRADITIONAL METHODS

A BSTRACT . Text extraction from ever increasing multimedia content is very helpful for a number of applications such as location information, content based information retrieval, intelligent transport and text-to-speech systems to name a few. Binarization is an essential pre-processing operation, whose results may greatly affect the output of text extraction systems. In this study, four well-known document based binarization algorithms have been tested for their suitability to natural scene word images. Results on a dataset of 100 Gurmukhi word images shows that Otsu algorithm outperforms as compared to other three methods.
Multi-phases all-digital DLL with multi-input and wide-range delay line

ABSTRACT This paper describes a multi-phase all-digital delay-locked loop with multi-input delay line to achieve a wide range operation. The proposed DLL can generate four phases and the range of operating frequency from 3 MHz to 600 MHz. To save the silicon area, a new structure of delay line proposes to achieve wide range operation. The proposed delay line is implemented with one multi-input cyclic delay cell and four 2-input delay cells. The chip area of proposed DLL is 0.134 mm2. The measured peak-to-peak and root-mean-square are 10.76ps and 1.53ps respectively at 600 MHz while consuming 25 mW under a 1.8 V. The measured results show that the output four phases of DNL and INL are between ±0.013 LSB and 0.015 LSB~-0.011 LSB at 600 MHz, respectively. The proposed circuit has a wider input frequency range and better FOM compared with previous studies. The proposed achieve the lower operation frequency at 3 MHz and smaller phase error at 600 MHz.
Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of a coconut crab, Birgus latro (Linnaeus, 1767) (Decapoda: Anomura: Coenobitidae), from Okinawa, Japan

We present a full description and analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of a Pacific Ocean specimen of the coconut crab Birgus latro (Linnaeus, 1767), the largest extant terrestrial arthropod in the world. Our de novo-assembled mitogenome has a massive 16,161 times organelle read coverage, a length of 16,411 bp, contains 22 tDNAs (20 unique), 13 protein-coding genes, two rDNAs, and a putative control region of length 1,381 bp. The control region contains three microsatellites and two pairs of inverted repeats. Contrary to the mitochondrial sentinel gene concept, two-dimensional nucleotide analysis reveals higher GC-content in cox gene families than in nadh gene families. Moreover, cox gene families are more conserved than nadh gene families among the species of Coenobitidae selected for comparison. Secondary structure prediction of the 22 tDNAs shows major deviations from the cloverleaf pattern, which points to a relatively high rate of mutation in these genes. We also present a repertoire of mitochondrial variation between our male Okinawan coconut crab and an Indian Ocean specimen that consists of one insertion, one deletion, 135 SNPs, three MNPs and nine complex polymorphisms. We provide confirmatory evidence that the superfamily Paguroidea, to which the coconut crab belongs, is polyphyletic, that all the protein-coding genes of B. latro are under purifying selection, and that a Pacific versus Indian Ocean coconut crab population divergence occurred during the Pleistocene.
The complete mitochondrial genome of the Opisthotropis guangxiensis (Squamata: Colubridae)

Abstract In this study, we report the complete mitochondrial genome of the Opisthotropis guangxiensis, which is 17,042 bp in size and includes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 2 non-coding regions. The sequence presented would be useful for better understanding the phylogenetic and evolutionary of genus Opisthotropis.
Pursuing the Elixir of Life: In Vivo Antioxidative Effect of Manganosalen Complexes, a Review

Manganosalen complexes are coordination compounds that possess a chelating salen-type ligand, a class of bis-Schiff bases obtained by condensation of salicylaldehyde and a diamine. They may act as catalytic antioxidants mimicking both the structure and the reactivity of the native antioxidant enzymes active site. Thus, manganosalen complexes have shown to exhibit superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, and they could potentially facilitate the scavenging of excess ROS, thereby restoring the redox balance in the damaged cells and organs. Initial catalytic studies compared the potency of these compounds as antioxidants in terms of rate constants of the chemical reactivity against ROS, giving catalytic values approaching and even exceeding that of the native antioxidative enzymes. Although most of these catalytic studies lack of biological relevance, subsequent in vitro studies have confirmed the efficiency of many manganosalen complexes in oxidative stress models. These synthetic catalytic scavengers, cheaper than natural antioxidants, have accordingly attracted intensive attention for the therapy of ROS-mediated injuries. The aim of this review is to focus on in vivo studies performed on manganosalen complexes and their activity on the treatment of several pathological disorders associated with oxidative damage. This disorders, ranging from the prevention of fetal malformations to the extension of lifespan, include neurodegenerative, inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, tissue injury, and other damages related to liver, kidney or lungs.