Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of the Arthrobacter viscosus penicillin G acylase gene in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis

The penicillin G acylase gene cloned from Arthrobacter viscosus 8895GU was subcloned into vectors, and the recombinant plasmids were transferred into Escherichia coli or Bacillus subtilis. Both E. coli and B. subtilis transformants expressed the A. viscosus penicillin G acylase. The enzyme activity was found in the intracellular portion of the E. coli transformants or in the cultured medium of the B. subtilis transformants. Penicillin G acylase production in the B. subtilis transformants was 7.2 times higher than that in the parent A. viscosus. The A. viscosus penicillin G acylase was induced by phenylacetic acid in A. viscosus, whereas the enzyme was produced constitutively in both the E. coli and B. subtilis transformants carrying the A. viscosus penicillin G acylase gene.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Assessment of PLSDA cross validation

Classifying groups of individuals based on their metabolic profile is one of the main topics in metabolomics research. Due to the low number of individuals compared to the large number of variables, this is not an easy task. PLSDA is one of the data analysis methods used for the classification. Unfortunately this method eagerly overfits the data and rigorous validation is necessary. The validation however is far from straightforward. Is this paper we will discuss a strategy based on cross model validation and permutation testing to validate the classification models. It is also shown that too optimistic results are obtained when the validation is not done properly. Furthermore, we advocate against the use of PLSDA score plots for inference of class differences.
Single stranded rescue from phagemids in microtitre plates.

Recently a method has been described for the preparation of M13 ssDNA that uses SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate) instead of phenol to denature the phage protein coats (1). We have adapted a semiautomated method for template preparation from M13 phage plaques (1, 2) to prepare ssDNA from phagemid pBSll recombinant clones (3). This allows synthesis of up to 384 ssDNA templates in one day with manual techniques, although the method could easily be automated (2). It requires no specialized equipment apart from a centrifuge adapted to take microtitre plates and after the rescue step is essentially the same as for processing phages (1, 2). Particularly it does not involve the use of special filtration equipment unlike earlier techniques (1). :
Sleep Characteristics in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Study Objectives: Patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) complain of difficulties with sleep dysfunction. This study characterizes sleep architecture and Alpha-Delta sleep (ADS) in patients with POTS. Methods: Patients diagnosed with POTS with reported daytime sleepiness were evaluated by polysomnography (women=100%; mean age= 34.3; range 25-55). Measurements included number of nocturnal awakenings as well as the average hours of sleep, sleep architecture, alpha wave intrusion in NREM (N3) sleep efficiency and apnea-hyponea index and sleep stages. Results: Sleep efficiency was reduced (62.02%, range=47.6-78.1) with prolonged REM latencies (229.8 minutes, range 127.5-404.5) and increased N2 sleep (69.22%, range 61.1-79.9%). Decreased REM sleep (8.72%, range 1.5-17.3) and decreased REM cycles (1.2, range 1-2) were observed (0.46, range 0-1.6). Conclusions: In this study POTS patients were noted to have abnormal sleep architecture and alpha delta sleep.
Blockade by Neurotransmitter Antagonists of Veratridine‐Activated Ion Channels in Neuronal Cell Lines

Abstract: The voltage‐dependent Na+ ionophore of various neuronal cells is permeable not only to Na+ ions but also to guanidinium ions. Therefore, the veratridine‐(or aconitine‐) stimulated influx of [14C]guanidinium in neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid cells was measured to characterize the Na+ ionophore of these cells. Half‐maximal stimulation of guanidinium uptake was seen at 30 μM veratridine. At 1 mM guanidinium, the veratridine‐stimulated uptake of guanidinium was lowered to 50% by approximately 60 mM Li+, Na+, or K+ and by a few millimolar Mn2+, Co2+, or Ni2+. The basal, as well as the veratridine‐stimulated, uptake of guanidinium was inhibited by the cholinergic antagonists (+)‐tubocurarine (Ki= 50 to 500 nM) and atropine (Ki= 5 to 30 μM) and the adrenergic antagonists phentolamine (Ki= 5 μM) and propranolol (Ki= 60 μM). The specificity of the inhibitory effects of these agents is stressed by the ineffectiveness of various other neurotransmitter antagonists. However, the corresponding ionophore in neuroblastoma cells (clone N1E‐115) seems to be regulated differently. While phentolamine and propranolol inhibit the veratridine‐activated uptake as in the hybrid cells, (+)‐tubocurarine and atropine exert only a slight effect.
Enhanced Unitary Beamforming Scheme for Limited-Feedback Multiuser MIMO Systems

In this letter, we consider practical downlink multiuser multiple-input multiple-output systems where each user has multiple antennas and codebook-based limited channel feedback is available at base station. We propose a preprocessing scheme for downlink transmission where a unitary beamforming matrix is used. Firstly, we propose how to construct the unitary matrix that maximizes sum rate. Secondly, we propose a codebook-based channel feedback method for the proposed beamforming method. Numerical results show that the proposed scheme outperforms conventional zero-forcing beamforming scheme in terms of sum rate.
Component deployment using parallel ant-nests

This paper targets the problem of efficient software component deployment in distributed networked services. We approach the problem from a model-based service development aspect and propose a solution based on novel methods applied in network management. The swarm intelligence-based deployment logic we have developed uses service models that are defined in UML 2.0. These service models are embellished to contain the non-functional requirements against the implementation of the service that are necessary to solve the component deployment problem and to obtain a deployment mapping. The result of the heuristic optimisation procedure is mappings between the components and the resources provided by the execution environment the service is deployed into. In this work, the deployment is viewed from the perspective of the service provider and our algorithm possesses significant potential in providing adaptation support for services in various changing environments.
Involvement of the Notifying Body in the innovative development environment: Lessons learnt from the development of green alternative cryogenic fuelling systems in multinational work groups

To reduce emissions alternative innovative fuel technologies like the usage of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) are focused on, which are not mature yet and there is a high level of uncertainty. The Notifying Body, which shall accept the design, is narrowing the envelope further by applying conservative approaches to protect the end users. There are several international parties involved in different stages of the development process. Motivated by these circumstances, an innovative development environment for high-tech industrial products has been proposed, incorporating the active participation of both the Notifying Body and the Customer, which validation is accomplished by a case study in the development of an alternative cryogenic LNG fueling system.
A high dynamic range miniature DDS-based FMCW radar

A miniature DDS-based FMCW radar has been realized with dynamic range as high as 80 dB. A FMCW radar has many application as on-board sensor. The FMCW radar is a precision range measuring instrument. Hence it can be used for a variety of applications in aircrafts, helicopters and missiles. This paper describes in brief the design of one unique system which has been designed to operate in various modes. The difference come only at software level and setting of different thresholds for different applications. The major design difference here is the use of DDS to directly generate FMCW waveform and up-convert it to RF. It has many advantages over conventional FMCW signal generation. A linear FMCW system has been designed around this concept which resulted in sensitivity as good as -122 dBm and a high degree of slope linearity and repeatable in multiple units. A variety of antennas designed for different roles have made the system adaptable to various platform. The paper also shows results obtained and a critical comments on performance of total system and subsystems.
Physics of Hole Transport in Strained Silicon MOSFET Inversion Layers

A comprehensive quantum anisotropic transport model for holes was used to study silicon PMOS inversion layer transport under arbitrary stress. The anisotropic band structures of bulk silicon and silicon under field confinement as a twodimensional quantum gas are computed using the pseudopotential method and a six-band stress-dependent k.p Hamiltonian. Anisotropic scattering is included in the momentum-dependent scattering rate calculation. Mobility is obtained from the Kubo-Greenwood formula at low lateral field and from the fullband Monte Carlo simulation at high lateral field. Using these methods, a comprehensive study has been performed for both uniaxial and biaxial stresses. The results are compared with device bending data and piezoresistance data for uniaxial stress, and device data from strained Si channel on relaxed SiGe substrate devices for biaxial tensile stress. All comparisons show a very good agreement with simulation. It is found that the hole band structure is dominated by 12 "wings," where mechanical stress, as well as the vertical field under certain stress conditions, can alter the energies of the few lowest hole subbands, changing the transport effective mass, density-of-states, and scattering rates, and thus affecting the mobility
Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) mitigation in seedling cotton using strip tillage and winter cover crops.

BACKGROUND Thrips are the most consistent insect pests of seedling cotton in the southeastern United States, where symptoms can range from leaf curling to stand loss. In a 2 year study, thrips adults and immatures were sampled at 14, 21 and 28 days after planting on cotton planted with a thiamethoxam seed treatment in concert with crimson clover, wheat or rye winter cover crops and conventional or strip tillage to investigate potential differences in thrips infestations. RESULTS Densities of adult thrips, primarily Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), peaked on the first sampling date, whereas immature densities peaked on the second sampling date. Regardless of winter cover crop, plots that received strip tillage experienced significantly fewer thrips at each sampling interval. In addition, assessment of percentage ground cover 42 days after planting showed that there was more than twice as much ground cover in the strip-tilled plots compared with conventionally tilled plots. Correlation analyses showed that increased ground cover was inversely related to thrips densities that occurred on all three sampling dates in 2008 and the final sampling date in 2009. CONCLUSIONS Growers who utilize strip tillage and a winter cover crop can utilize seed treatments for mitigation of early-season thrips infestation.
Long-term temporal trends and estimated transmission rates for Mycobacterium bovis infection in an undisturbed high-density badger (Meles meles) population

SUMMARY We describe epidemiological trends in Mycobacterium bovis infection in an undisturbed wild badger (Meles meles) population. Data were derived from the capture, clinical sampling and serological testing of 1803 badgers over 9945 capture events spanning 24 years. Incidence and prevalence increased over time, exhibiting no simple relationship with host density. Potential explanations are presented for a marked increase in the frequency of positive serological test results. Transmission rates (R0) estimated from empirical data were consistent with modelled estimates and robust to changes in test sensitivity and the spatial extent of the population at risk. The risk of a positive culture or serological test result increased with badger age, and varied seasonally. Evidence consistent with progressive disease was found in cubs. This study demonstrates the value of long-term data and the repeated application of imperfect diagnostic tests as indices of infection to reveal epidemiological trends in M. bovis infection in badgers.
Monitoring of journal bearing faults based on motor current signature analysis for induction motors

Most of the failures in oil-lubricated journal bearings are associated with mechanical instabilities produced by lubrication system problems or bearing wear, and result in increased shaft vibration. Therefore, monitoring of the journal bearing condition in the field mainly relies on analysis of proximity probe or accelerometer signals. However, not all motors with journal bearings are equipped with such mechanical sensors due to cost or environmental restrictions. In this paper, the feasibility of applying motor current signature analysis (MCSA) for remote monitoring of mechanical instabilities in journal bearings produced by oil whirl and bearing clearance problems, is evaluated. In addition, a small-scale journal bearing test setup that can be implemented in low voltage motors for testing journal bearing faults under controlled conditions, is presented. An experimental study on a sealless fuel pump motor operating in the field, and on the custom-built journal bearing motor test setup shows that MCSA is capable of providing remote monitoring of journal bearing oil whirl and increased clearance for potentially preventing motor failure. The results of vibration analysis are also presented for comparative evaluation.
The cause of subchondral bone cysts in osteoarthrosisA finite element analysis

Background The etiology of subchondral bone cysts in arthrotic joints is unclear.Materials and methods We used two-dimensional finite element analysis to evaluate the hypothesis that subchondral bone cysts in the osteoarthrotic hip joint may be the result of microfractures caused by localized cartilage defects or a thinned layer of cartilage. We evaluated the equivalent bone stress (von Mises (VM) stress) in the cancellous bone as an indicator of potential microfractures and further development of cystic lesions.Results Cartilage defects induced stress peaks in the subchondral bone. This peak stress distribution corresponded to the clinical observation of development of acetabular and femoral subchondral cysts in a “kissing” position. A femoral subchondral bone cyst induced a stress peak at the corresponding acetabular site, whereas subchondral acetabular cysts did not increase stress in the femoral head. Acetabular cysts showed an increased level of stress at the lateral and medial border of the lesion which was much higher than the stress levels in the femoral head, indicating a tendency to faster growth.Interpretation Our study supports the theory that stress-induced bone resorption may cause development of subchondral bone cysts in osteoarthrosis.
The Tone Height of Multiharmonic Sounds

Multiharmonic tones containing resolved harmonics (1–7) of a fundamental, unresolved harmonics (8–24) of a fundamental, or both resolved and unresolved harmonics (1–24) were presented to listeners at each of six octaves ranging from 32 to 1024 Hz. There also were modified versions of each stimulus in which alternate harmonics were either attenuated or phase shifted. Listeners were asked to judge the tone height of the sounds when presented in a musical context. The results show that all three manipulations can affect tone height and that stimuli with the same period produce tone-height perceptions that differ by more than an octave!
Cell-specific Purinergic Receptors Coupled to Ca2+ Entry and Ca2+ Release from Internal Stores in Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

We have assessed the relative contribution of Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ release from internal stores to the [Ca2+]i transients evoked by purinergic receptor activation in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The [Ca2+]i was recorded from single cells using ratiometric fura-2 microfluorometry. Two discrete groups of ATP-sensitive cells could be distinguished on the basis of their relative capacity to respond to ATP in the virtual absence of extracellular Ca2+. One group of cells (group I) failed to respond to ATP in the absence of Ca2+, was completely insensitive to UTP, and displayed suramin-blockable [Ca2+]i transients when challenged with ATP in the presence of external Ca2+. ATP activated a prominent and rapidly inactivating Mn2+ influx pathway in group I cells, as assessed by monitoring Mn2+ quenching of fura-2 fluorescence. In contrast, a second group of ATP-sensitive cells (group II) exhibited pronounced [Ca2+]i rises when challenged with ATP and UTP in the absence of Ca2+ and was completely insensitive to suramin. ATP and UTP activated a delayed and less prominent Mn2+ influx pathway in group II cells. Contrary to the nicotinic receptor agonist DMPP, which evoked a preferential release of epinephrine, ATP evoked a preferential release of norepinephrine, and UTP had no effect on secretion. Suramin nearly suppressed ATP-evoked norepinephrine release. We conclude that chromaffin cells contain two distinct and cell-specific purinoceptor subtypes. Although some cells express a P2U-type purinoceptor coupled to Ca2+ release from internal stores and to the associated slow Ca2+ refilling mechanism, other cells express a suramin-sensitive and UTP-insensitive purinoceptor exclusively coupled to Ca2+ influx, probably an ATP-gated channel. It is suggested that the ATP-gated channel is preferentially localized to norepinephrine-secreting chromaffin cells and supports specifically hormone output from these cells. Thus, the biochemical pathways involved in the exocytotic release of the two major stress-related hormones appear to be regulated by distinct signaling systems.
Role of a Complex Containing Rad17, Mec3, and Ddc1 in the Yeast DNA Damage Checkpoint Pathway

ABSTRACT Genetic analysis has suggested that RAD17,RAD24, MEC3, and DDC1 play similar roles in the DNA damage checkpoint control in budding yeast. These genes are required for DNA damage-induced Rad53 phosphorylation and considered to function upstream of RAD53 in the DNA damage checkpoint pathway. Here we identify Mec3 as a protein that associates with Rad17 in a two-hybrid screen and demonstrate that Rad17 and Mec3 interact physically in vivo. The amino terminus of Rad17 is required for its interaction with Mec3, and the protein encoded by therad17-1 allele, containing a missense mutation at the amino terminus, is defective for its interaction with Mec3 in vivo. Ddc1 interacts physically and cosediments with both Rad17 and Mec3, indicating that these three proteins form a complex. On the other hand, Rad24 is not found to associate with Rad17, Mec3, and Ddc1.DDC1 overexpression can partially suppress the phenotypes of the rad24Δ mutation: sensitivity to DNA damage, defect in the DNA damage checkpoint and decrease in DNA damage-induced phosphorylation of Rad53. Taken together, our results suggest that Rad17, Mec3, and Ddc1 form a complex which functions downstream of Rad24 in the DNA damage checkpoint pathway.
Linear optical model for a large ground-based telescope

A linear optical model for 30 m class astronomical telescopes is discussed. Our approach to modeling the optical performance of the telescope is an extension of the line-of-sight analysis to incorporate low order image aberrations. The model describes the optical path difference at the telescope exit pupil as a linear combination of primary and secondary mirror displacements and deformations in a Zernike basis. Although the model is valid over a significant, useful range of deformation amplitude and field of view, it is particularly convenient for the design and investigation of active optics control systems operating close to the desired condition of an unperturbed telescope. The formalism of the linear model and comparison with the OPD results generated by ray-tracing are discussed.
Pathogenesis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by myozenin 2 mutations is independent of calcineurin activity.

AIMS The role of calcineurin protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B) in the pathogenesis of human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains unsettled. We determined potential involvement of calcineurin in the pathogenesis of HCM caused by mutations in myozenin 2 (MYOZ2), an inhibitor of calcineurin. METHODS AND RESULTS We generated multiple lines of transgenic mice expressing either Flag-tagged wild-type (WT) (MYOZ2(WT)) or mutant MYOZ2(S48P) and MYOZ2(I246M), identified in families with HCM, in the heart. To mimic the human genotype, we generated bigenic mice expressing WT and mutant MYOZ2 in the background of hemizygous endogenous MYOZ2 (Myoz2(+/-)). Transgene proteins constituted 15-48% of the total MYOZ2 protein in the heart. Mutant MYOZ2 mice showed molecular, cellular, and gross cardiac hypertrophy, preserved systolic function, and interstitial fibrosis. Immunofluorescence staining showed co-localization of WT and mutant MYOZ2 proteins with α-actinin at the Z disks. Electron microscopy showed disrupted and mal-aligned Z disks in the mutant mice. Cardiac calcineurin activity, determined by quantifying Rcan1.4 mRNA and protein levels, luciferase activity in triple transgenic Myoz2(+/-):NFATc-Luc:MYOZ2(I246M) and Myoz2(+/-):NFATc-Luc:MYOZ2(WT) mice, and NFATc transcriptional activity assay, was unchanged in the mutant transgenic mice. However, levels of phospho-ERK1/2 and JNK54/46 were altered in the transgenic mice. Likewise, lentiviral-mediated expression of the MYOZ2(I246M) did not affect RCAN1.4 and calcineurin (PPP3CB) protein levels. CONCLUSIONS Thus, the cardiac phenotype in HCM caused by MYOZ2 mutations might be independent of calcineurin activity in the heart. Z disk abnormalities might provide the stimulus for the induction of cardiac hypertrophy caused by MYOZ2 mutations.
High-Efficiency Periodic Sparse Patch Array Based on Mutual Coupling

The loss and cost introduced by the feeding network and the associated components, e.g., T/R modules or phase shifters and so on, of a large array antenna are the main issue limiting its efficiency and applications. A novel idea in order to build a sparse periodic patch array is presented while keeping similar aperture efficiency by taking advantage of mutual coupling between array elements, and then the total cost of the array can be obviously decreased. Operating principles are carefully addressed based on electric field distributions and impedance matrix. Simulations and measurements show that when the active element spacing is as large as 1. 67λ0 (λ0 is the free-space wavelength at the operating frequency), approximately equal directivity can be achieved, compared to an ideal conventional array with a half-element spacing (0.835λ0) and an identical total size.
Optimal Wiring of Movable Terminals

In this paper we consider the problem of local wiring in a VLSI chip. The problem is one of interconnecting two sets of terminals, one set on each side of a wiring channel, in accordance with a given interconnection pattern, and to accomplish this while minimizing some objective function. We make the further assumption that the terminals are not rigidly positioned and can be "moved" provided that this does not change the structural intent of the circuit. Several objective functions are considered-channel width, channel length, channel area, channel perimeter, number of via holes, as well as some constrained objective functions. For some of these objective functions, we are able to find polynomial time optimal algorithms while, for others, we prove NP-completeness and suggest efficient heuristics.