Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EVOLUTION VIA GENE DUPLICATION AND ALTERNATIVE SPLICING IN THE EUKARYOTIC SKI7 AND HBS1 GENES

v Chapter 1: Introduction, Background, and Significance . 1 The RNA exosome . 2 The Ski complex is a cofactor of the exosome required for cytoplasmic 3’-5’ RNA decay . 4 Ski7 coordinates the exosome and Ski complex during normal and nonstop mRNA decay . 5 HBS1 is the paralog of SKI7 and is also involved in RNA quality control. 9 Gene duplication and proteomic diversity . 14 Experimental analysis can distinguish between subfunctionalization and neofunctionalization . 16 Alternative splicing in fungi and its role in proteomic diversity . 19 Significance . 22 Chapter 2: Materials and Methods . 24 Strains and Media . 25 Plasmids . 25 RNA isolation . 26 PCR and rt-PCR . 26
Representation and modulation of mechanical information in the lateral line of larval zebrafish

The lateral line organ in fish and amphibians transforms fluid motion in the animal’s surroundings into a representation of its hydrodynamic environment. This sense is involved in complex behaviors, ranging from rheotaxis to schooling. The primary sensory neurons are hair cells, each of which can tonically transmit a graded ‘analog’ signal to afferent neurons, via highly specialized ‘ribbon’ synapses. Many questions about this first step in sensory coding remain to be answered. For example: What is the relationship between the biologically relevant stimulus and hair cell output? How do the synaptic properties of different hair cells contribute to the signal that is sent to the brain? And how are these signals modulated by top-down (efferent) projections? The first chapter of this thesis describes a newly established preparation including an overview of transgenic fish lines, some of which were newly generated, to study the processing of mechanical information in larval zebrafish at various stages, from the periphery to the hindbrain. The second chapter contains a detailed characterization of the relationship between cupula deflection and hair-cell glutamate release. We show that the population of hair cells in the lateral line is highly heterogeneous in terms of their sensitivity, dynamic range and adaptive properties and that this heterogeneity has functional implications for downstream processing. These results are unique because of how well the biophysical, anatomical and physiological context of the actual sensory transduction is maintained. The third chapter describes the effects of (fictive) locomotion on the processing of mechanical information. We show that an efferent signal, which is highly correlated with motor neuron activity, is present in the neuromast and leads to a strong suppression of mechanically induced activity of afferent neurons. This efference copy appears to selectively reduce the gain to hair cells sensitive to posterior cupula deflections.
CHEMICAL AND X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC STUDIES ON URANYL FLUORIDE

Graphic methods of anhydrous uranyl fluoride and its compounds with water and hydrofluoric acid. The anhydrous material was synthesized by four different methods. All the products had the same x-ray pattern. The hydrates andd hydrofluorinated hydrates from one of the preparations was studied. Four compounds, each characterized by distinct x-ray patterns were encountered. Each of these appeared to exist over a range of composition. The reaction between excess hex gas and water vapor was studied in the laboratory. The primary product has the empirical composition of uranyl fluoride monohydrate. The primary product of hex/water vapor interaction from the diffusion plant was studied by xray diffraction. It has a diffraction pattern different from any of the laboratory preparations. On hydration it trandsforms to one or other of the four synthetic hydrates or hydrofluorinated hydrates. This transformation is reversible. Both the laboratory and plant products have been studied under the polarizing microscope. Attempts to obtain ''fibre'' photographs from orierted assemblages of crystallites have met with some success and indicate a line or approach for unit cell and structure determinations. The inter-relationships between the phases are discussed and methods are suggested for a further elucidation of the system. (auth)
Investigation of behavioral variability In humans

This thesis aims at investigating behavioral variations as an important variable to study behavioral changes in Humans. Variability has been let apart in traditional psychology for several years. This situation is directly related to the different ways to encompass and define behavior in psychology. One important part of this thesis has been dedicated to underline the influence and the importance of these different perspectives on the study of behavior. In fact, the place of studies on behavioral variability in research can be considered as an illustration of these different perspectives.Our investigations have focused on two perspectives to introduce the place of behavioral variations in psychology: essentialism and functionalism. On the one hand essentialism defines behaviors according to their topographies, on the other hand functionalism focuses on the interaction between the environment and behaviors. Despite the common question and because of the differences on the research subject, behavioral variability is differently handled according to the paradigm of research. Indeed, from an essentialist perspective, behavioral variation is considered as a confounding variable which has logically been let apart. From a functionalist perspective, more precisely in selectionism, behavioral variability take an important place in behavioral selection.We adopted in our works a selectionist perspective in which behavioral variability is considered to be the result of environmental changes. Moreover, it shows that controlled variations can be implied on several aspects of behavioral changes. However, this thesis consists of experimental studies investigating behavioral variability in humans. Our experimental works can be divided into two axes:First, we investigated how environmental changes affect the persistence of variable behaviors. Studies with animals have shown that despite environmental disruptors, behavioral variability is more persistent to change than other behavioral patterns. These first studies aimed at investigating behavioral variability and at understanding the mechanism which might affect it.The second part of our experimental investigations dealt with the relation between behavioral variability and the acquisition of less probable behaviors. It can be divided into two experiences. We carried out a first experiment which demonstrates that behavioral variability facilitates the acquisition of less probable sequences. The second experience can be considered as a pilot study in which we investigated how variable responses can be transferred to other modalities.In the continuity of animal studies, this thesis has demonstrated that Behavioral variability can be altered by environmental variables and that it can facilitate the acquisition of rare responses. However, this Research provides a different perspective to encompass behavioral variation, it has enabled a better understanding of learning processes, creativity and solving problem in Humans.
EFFECT OF SILICON ON PHYTOCHEMICAL AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF ALOE VERA UNDER COLD STRESS

Plants use the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense mechanisms to avoid and/or tolerate environmental stresses. As a useful element in plants, silicon plays an important role in activating these defense systems and thus in improving plant resistance to environmental stresses. The present research studied the effect of silicon on important antioxidants including Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) and also on glucomannan, mannose, and aloin in Aloe vera. 60 Aloe vera plant of Aloe barbadensis Mill variety were taken. After applying the fertilizer treatments during cold stress treatment, 30 pots were placed at 25 °C (control) and 30 pots at 4 °C (stress), and then fertilizer sidetreatments were applied. During their growth, the plants were treated with various silicon concentrations (500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 mg/l). Ninety days after they were planted, 30 of the plants were separated and exposed to cold stress at 4 °C for seven days. After applying the cold stress treatment, leaf samples were taken and analyzed simultaneously from treated and untreated plants. Results of ANOVA showed that cold stress and silicon treatments had significant effects on SOD, CAT, glucomannan, mannose, and aloin. Application of cold stress increased SOD and CAT activities and reduced glucomannan, mannose, and aloin concentrations. Increases in silicon concentration improved both enzymatic antioxidant activity and concentrations of soluble sugars and of aloin in Aloe vera. These results indicate that silicon plays a key role in enhancing plant defense systems against cold stress. Therefore, application of silicon fertilizers is of great importance in reducing losses caused by climatic stresses and in achieving the goals of sustainable agriculture.
Identifikationeines neuen Gens für Senior-Løken-Syndrom

Das Senior-Loken-Syndrom ist eine autosomal-rezessiv vererbte Erkrankung, die durch die Assoziation von Nephronophthise, einer zystischen Nierenerkrankung, und einer tapetoretinaler Degeneration (Retinitis pigmentosa, Lebersche congenitale Amaurose) gekennzeichnet ist. Bisher konnten Mutationen in vier Genen, NPHP1, 2, 3 und 4, als ursachlich fur isolierte NPHP und SLS identifiziert werden. NPHP1, dessen Genprodukt Nephrocystin genannt wird, beinhaltet eine SH3-Domane und interagiert mit den Genprodukten von NPHP2, 3, 4 und intracytoplasmatischen Proteinen, welche in Zelladhasionsvorgange involviert sind. Die Forschungsgruppe um Dr. Bart Loeys konnte mit Hilfe einer Gesamtgenomanalyse und nachfolgender Fein-Haplotypisierung bei einer konsanguine SLS-Familie ein 8,7 Mb groses Intervall auf Chromosom 3q13-q21 kartieren. In dieser Arbeit wurden aus der kritischen Region auf Chromosom 3q13-q21 neun Kandidatengene ausgewahlt. Mittels RT-PCR und nachfolgender Sequenzierung gelang es das Gen KIAA0036 zu identifizieren. Durch Exon-PCR an 174 Familien konnten 9 verschiedene Mutationen in 16 Familien detektiert werden. Alle Mutationen sind trunkierend und stellen sogenannte loss-of-function Mutationen dar, bei denen ein fruhzeitiges Stopp-Kodon in der Aminosauresequenz zum vorzeitigen Abbruch des Proteins bei der Translation fuhrt. Alle Familien, in denen Mutationen detektiert werden konnten, sind an SLS mit fruhem Manifestationsalter erkrankt, mit einer Ausnahmer eines Patienten mit spatem Manifestationsalter des SLS. Fur diesen Patienten konnte nur eine heterozygote Mutation detektier werden. KIAA0036 kodiert fur ein 589 Aminosauren umfassendes, neuartiges Protein, welches mit Myosin V verwandt ist. Orthologe Proteine konnten fur Maus, Ratte und Zebrafisch mit Aminosaure-Identitaten von 86% fur Mus musculus - Homo sapiens, 81% fur Rattus norvegicus - Homo sapiens und 37% fur Danio rerio - Homo sapiens identifiziert werden. Die Identifizierung des KIAA0036-Gens stellt die Grundlage fur zukunftige Studien bezuglich der Proteinfunktion und der Aufklarung der Pathogenese der Nephronophthise und des Senior-Loken-Syndroms dar. %%%%The Senior-Loken-syndrome (SLS) is a autosomal-recessive disease, which is charactarized by an association of nephronophthise (NPHP), a polycystic kidney disease, and a retinal degeneration (retinitis pigmentosa). So far mutations in four genes, NPHP1, 2, 3 and 4 have been identified as being causative for NPHP and SLS. NPHP1, which gene product is nephrocystin, contains a SH3 domane and interacts with the proteins of NPHP 2, 3, 4 and other intracytoplasmatic proteins, who are involved in the cell adhesion process. Dr. Bart Loeys and his scientists were able to do a whole genome search on a consanguineous SLS-family and found an informative 8,7 Mb intervall on chromosome 3q13-q21. In this dissertation we took a look at this critical region on chromosome 3q13-q21 and decided on nine candidate genes. Through rt-PCR and sequencing we were able to identify gene KIAA0036. We were…
A NEW ENSEMBLE OF TEXTURE DESCRIPTORS BASED ON LOCAL APPEARANCE-BASED METHODS FOR FACE ANTI-SPOOFING SYSTEM

Face is a very popular non-intrusive modality used in biometrics recognition. Spoofing attack is a method using which an illegitimate access is made via the face biometric system. Face anti-spoofing technique we implemented using static approaches are based on descriptors that are extracted using Local appearance-based methods for the face images of NUAA Photo Impostor database. This paper discusses few variations in the input image that is used for print attacks that can be explored while designing the features. An ensemble of local texture features are extracted upon which a kNN classifier applied to determine real and impostor face images. Our objective is to lay down the effectiveness of different type of descriptors extracted for Face Anti-spoofing technique to detect print attacks.
Bioclimatic classification of US vegetation along a coast-to-coast macrotransect crossing central United States. I: Mediterranean vegetation

Abstract This report presents the first of two parts of a bioclimatic classification of the vegetation of the United States. Using a geographical information system, 987 weather stations were located along a longitudinal macrotransect from the shores of the Atlantic to Pacific on four maps: Map of the Physiographic Divisions of the Conterminous US, US Potential Natural Vegetation Map, US Ecoregion Map, and Terrestrial Ecosystems-Isobioclimates Map of the Conterminous United States. Based on these maps, bibliographic resources and field data, we deduced the potential natural vegetation (PNV) of each weather station; then, we assigned the different PNV types to alliance or association levels using the US National Vegetation Classification (USNVC). In a next step, USNVC groups were related with similar level phytosociological syntaxa described in the study area. The bioclimatic distribution of the USNVC units defined was then interpreted using the bioclimatic classification proposed in successive approximations by S. Rivas-Martínez. The distribution of USNVC alliances was mainly linked to the macrobioclimates (Mediterranean, Temperate, and Tropical) of the longitudinal gradient examined, though some edaphic factors induced the appearance of specialized plant groups. Herein, we present our data for the Mediterranean macrobioclimate, in which 53 alliances and 28 isobioclimates were identified.
Antioxidants in flour of the oilseed crop Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz

Forty-seven accessions of Camelina sativa (L.) Crants (41 spring and 6 winter forms) were analyzed for antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoids and proanthocyanidins. The antioxidant activity (AA%) was high in camelina accessions and with a significant variability among accessions and between spring and winter forms. The highest antioxidant activities have been observed in some spring accessions (CAM35, CAM173 and CAM268). TPC was high in camelina and significantly different among accessions. Antioxidant activity resulted highly correlated with TPC, while no correlation was observed with flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents. Significant variability was observed among accessions but not between groups (winter and spring) for flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents. These two classes of compounds showed a significant inverse correlation between them suggesting that their synthesis is in competition. The camelina cake can enrich the animal diet of antioxidant compounds (phenolics) and some spring accessions are more promising for future breeding programs.
Open channel droplet-based microfluidics

Droplet-based microfluidics enables compartmentalization and controlled manipulation of small volumes. Open microfluidics provides increased accessibility, adaptability, and ease of manufacturing compared to closed microfluidic platforms. Here, we begin to build a toolbox for the emerging field of open channel droplet-based microfluidics, combining the ease of use associated with open microfluidic platforms with the benefits of compartmentalization afforded by droplet-based microfluidics. We develop fundamental microfluidic features to control droplets flowing in an immiscible carrier fluid within open microfluidic systems. Our systems use capillary flow to move droplets and carrier fluid through open channels and are easily fabricated through 3D printing, micromilling, or injection molding; further, droplet generation can be accomplished by simply pipetting into the open channel. We demonstrate droplet incubation and transport for downstream experimentation and tunable droplet splitting in open channels driven by capillary flow. Potential applications of our toolbox for droplet manipulation in open channels include cell culture and analysis, on-chip microscale reactions, and reagent delivery.
Molecular dynamics simulation of the solidification of AlCoCuFeNi high–entropy alloy nanowire

Molecular dynamics simulation of the solidification behavior of AlCoCuFeNi nanowire was carried out basing on the embedded atom potential with different cooling rates (1∙10, 1∙10, and 1∙10 K/s). To simulate an infinite nanowire, a periodical boundary condition along the nanowire axis direction was applied. The crystallization of the nanowire was characterized by studying the temperature dependence of the potential energy. The adaptive common neighbor analysis (CNA) was performed and the radial distribution function (RDF) was calculated to determine the structure and lattice parameters of phases of the AlCoCuFeNi nanowire. It has been shown that the final structure of investigated nanoparticle changes from amorphous to crystalline with decreasing of the rate of cooling.
Patient-derived phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase mutations in Drosophila result in autophagy and lysosome dysfunction

Phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase (PRPS) is a rate-limiting enzyme in nucleotide metabolism. While missense mutations of PRPS1 have been identified in neurological disorders such as Arts syndrome, little is known on how they contribute to pathogenesis. We engineered Drosophila PRPS (dPRPS) alleles that carry patient-derived PRPS missense mutations. Although dPRPS mutant flies develop normally, they have profound defects in autophagy induction and lysosome function. Consequently, dPRPS flies are sensitive to nutrient deprivation as they are unable to break down lipid storage by macroautophagy. In addition, we provide evidence showing that dRPPS is required for proper cellular response to oxidative stress, providing a possible mechanism by which PRPS1 dysfunction contributes to neurological disorders.
Qualimetry as productivity criteria in metal-cutting operations.

The qualimetry method will allow an objective assessment of the performance of metal-cutting machines and the production capacity of machinery, as well as an objective assessment of their use in multi-product manufacturing, applying the qualimetry approach and qualimetry indicators, which are based on the concept of qualification of metal removing during machine operations. The aim of the study is to develop methods for measuring the performance of metal-cutting machines and open the way to create a regulatory framework based on quantitative indicators of the equipment quality. Qualimetry measured volume of metal removing allows setting the maximum possible productivity (quali-power) of metal cutting machinery, based on a small number of basic quality indicators contained in the machinery data sheets. It is essential that the quali-power of the machinery is an objective indicator of its quality, independent of the specific conditions of its operation at any given time. Hence the productivity criteria in metalworking cutting operations can be measured.
Survival of an Endangered Orchid Liparis loeselii in Habitats with Different Water Level Fluctuations

ABSTRACT Liparis loeselii (L.) Rich. is an endangered orchid species which occurs in wetland habitats. For successful conservation of this orchid it is necessary to recognize its adaptive traits and special habitat requirements. Therefore, we examined morphological and anatomical traits in relation to the water level, cover of vascular plants and seed viability of L. loeselii in habitats with different water level fluctuations. Field studies of L. loeselii were carried out in nine localities and four habitat types: alkaline fen, calcareous fen with Cladium mariscus, transition mire and quaking bog. The fluctuations of seasonal water level were defined in the range from dry substrate to short time flooding (up to two weeks). Leaf length and width of 30 flowering specimens of L. loeselii as well as angle between the leaf blade and the axis of the inflorescence were measured at each locality. Seed viability and root anatomy were examined in the laboratory. The leaf angle was significantly affected (P < 0.05) by water level in the studied habitat. The leaf length to width ratio in each population of L. loeselii did not show significant differences between the years, but was characteristic for the habitat type. L. loeselii sensitivity to the long-term flooding in the habitat is associated with a lack of aerenchyma in its roots. During short-term flooding specimens of L. loeselii can survive due to a shallow root system and hyponastic leaf movements. As evidenced by seed viability, the most favourable growth conditions for L. loeselii are in the habitats with partially water saturated substrate with balanced water supply.
The Effect of Organizational Safety Behavior on Builders Autonomous Safety Behavior - the Mediation of Builders Safety Psychological Capital

It is great significant for preventing builders safety accidents to investigate the relationship between organizational safety behavior and builders autonomous safety behavior. This paper divides the organizational safety behavior into three dimensions, i.e., safety training, safety inspection and safety incentive. Builders' safety psychological capital is introduced as an intermediary variable. Structural equation model is used to analyze and verify the relationship of the organizational safety behavior, builders ' safety psychological capital and builders' autonomous safety behavior, which is expected to reveal the influence mechanism of organizational safety behavior on builders' autonomous safety behavior. The results show that the three dimensions of organizational safety behavior have significant positive effects on builders' safety psychological capital and builders' autonomous safety behavior, and the builders' safety psychological capital plays a part of intermediary role in the relationship between organizational safety behavior and builders' autonomous safety behavior. 