Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cloning and first functional characterization of a plant cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel.

Cyclic nucleotide-gated (cng) non-selective cation channels have been cloned from a number of animal systems. These channels are characterized by direct gating upon cAMP or cGMP binding to the intracellular portion of the channel protein, which leads to an increase in channel conductance. Animal cng channels are involved in signal transduction systems; they translate stimulus-induced changes in cytosolic cyclic nucleotide into altered cell membrane potential and/or cation flux as part of a signal cascade pathway. Putative plant homologs of animal cng channels have been identified. However, functional characterization (i.e. demonstration of cyclic-nucleotide-dependent ion currents) of a plant cng channel has not yet been accomplished. We report the cloning and first functional characterization of a plant member of this family of ion channels. The Arabidopsis cDNA AtCNGC2 encodes a polypeptide with deduced homology to the alpha-subunit of animal channels, and facilitates cyclic nucleotide-dependent cation currents upon expression in a number of heterologous systems. AtCNGC2 expression in a yeast mutant lacking a low-affinity K(+) uptake system complements growth inhibition only when lipophilic cyclic nucleotides are present in the culture medium. Voltage clamp analysis indicates that Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with AtCNGC2 cRNA demonstrate cyclic-nucleotide-dependent, inward-rectifying K(+) currents. Human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) transfected with AtCNGC2 cDNA demonstrate increased permeability to Ca(2+) only in the presence of lipophilic cyclic nucleotides. The evidence presented here supports the functional classification of AtCNGC2 as a cyclic-nucleotide-gated cation channel, and presents the first direct evidence (to our knowledge) identifying a plant member of this ion channel family.
Simulation of the Transformation of Internal Solitary Waves on Oceanic Shelves

Abstract Internal solitary waves transform as they propagate shoreward over the continental shelf into the coastal zone, from a combination of the horizontal variability of the oceanic hydrology (density and current stratification) and the variable depth. If this background environment varies sufficiently slowly in comparison with an individual solitary wave, then that wave possesses a soliton-like form with varying amplitude and phase. This stage is studied in detail in the framework of the variable-coefficient extended Korteweg–de Vries equation where the variation of the solitary wave parameters can be described analytically through an asymptotic description as a slowly varying solitary wave. Direct numerical simulation of the variable-coefficient extended Korteweg–de Vries equation is performed for several oceanic shelves (North West shelf of Australia, Malin shelf edge, and Arctic shelf) to demonstrate the applicability of the asymptotic theory. It is shown that the solitary wave may maintain its sol.
Parallel Supercomputing with Commodity Components

We have implemented a parallel computer architecture based entirely upon commodity personal computer components. Using 16 Intel Pentium Pro microprocessors and switched fast ethernet as a communication fabric, we have obtained sustained performance on scientific applications in excess of one Gigaflop. During one production astrophysics treecode simulation, we performed 1.2 x 10{sup 15} floating point operations (1.2 Petaflops) over a three week period, with one phase of that simulation running continuously for two weeks without interruption. We report on a variety of disk, memory and network benchmarks. We also present results from the NAS parallel benchmark suite, which indicate that this architecture is competitive with current commercial architectures. In addition, we describe some software written to support efficient message passing, as well as a Linux device driver interface to the Pentium hardware performance monitoring registers.
Processing of Carbonated Beer by Pulsed Electric Fields

The microbiological shelf life of carbonated beer can be extended after being processed by pulsed electric fields (PEFs). Being a nonthermal preservation method, the freshlike taste and the original nutritional value are better retained than with conventional thermal pasteurization (TP). Brewery regulations in Canada do not necessitate the TP of carbonated beer; hence, PEF processing finds a potential application in the beer industry. This paper investigates the applicability of the PEF processing to carbonated beer, particularly through a sealed and pressurized processing chamber. However, due to the inevitable flow of current during the PEF processing, metal ions will be released from the electrodes. The presence of these ions in PEF-processed beer accelerates its aging and may affect the organoleptic stability. Hence, we further evaluate the metal ions released during the PEF processing and their consequent effect, if any, on the taste and the shelf life. It has been found that the released amounts of iron ions are observed to be within the acceptable levels for consumable liquid foods. Untrained participants from the public preferred the PEF-processed beer when compared with thermally pasteurized beer. Trained panelists reported a metallic feeling in the PEF-processed beer corresponding to the presence of metal ions that was detected analytically.
Drosophila Kette coordinates myoblast junction dissolution and the ratio of Scar-to-WASp during myoblast fusion

ABSTRACT The fusion of founder cells and fusion-competent myoblasts (FCMs) is crucial for muscle formation in Drosophila. Characteristic events of myoblast fusion include the recognition and adhesion of myoblasts, and the formation of branched F-actin by the Arp2/3 complex at the site of cell–cell contact. At the ultrastructural level, these events are reflected by the appearance of finger-like protrusions and electron-dense plaques that appear prior to fusion. Severe defects in myoblast fusion are caused by the loss of Kette (a homolog of Nap1 and Hem-2, also known as NCKAP1 and NCKAP1L, respectively), a member of the regulatory complex formed by Scar or WAVE proteins (represented by the single protein, Scar, in flies). kette mutants form finger-like protrusions, but the electron-dense plaques are extended. Here, we show that the electron-dense plaques in wild-type and kette mutant myoblasts resemble other electron-dense structures that are known to function as cellular junctions. Furthermore, analysis of double mutants and attempts to rescue the kette mutant phenotype with N-cadherin, wasp and genes of members of the regulatory Scar complex revealed that Kette has two functions during myoblast fusion. First, Kette controls the dissolution of electron-dense plaques. Second, Kette controls the ratio of the Arp2/3 activators Scar and WASp in FCMs. Summary: The Drosophila protein Kette is essential for myoblast fusion. It controls the dissolution of electron-dense plaques and the ratio of Scar and WASp proteins in fusion-competent myoblasts during fusion pore formation.
Task-Dependent Intermuscular Motor Unit Synchronization between Medial and Lateral Vastii Muscles during Dynamic and Isometric Squats

Purpose Motor unit activity is coordinated between many synergistic muscle pairs but the functional role of this coordination for the motor output is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term modality of coordinated motor unit activity–the synchronized discharge of individual motor units across muscles within time intervals of 5ms–for the Vastus Medialis (VM) and Lateralis (VL). Furthermore, we studied the task-dependency of intermuscular motor unit synchronization between VM and VL during static and dynamic squatting tasks to provide insight into its functional role. Methods Sixteen healthy male and female participants completed four tasks: Bipedal squats, single-leg squats, an isometric squat, and single-leg balance. Monopolar surface electromyography (EMG) was used to record motor unit activity of VM and VL. For each task, intermuscular motor unit synchronization was determined using a coherence analysis between the raw EMG signals of VM and VL and compared to a reference coherence calculated from two desynchronized EMG signals. The time shift between VM and VL EMG signals was estimated according to the slope of the coherence phase angle spectrum. Results For all tasks, except for singe-leg balance, coherence between 15–80Hz significantly exceeded the reference. The corresponding time shift between VM and VL was estimated as 4ms. Coherence between 30–60Hz was highest for the bipedal squat, followed by the single-leg squat and the isometric squat. Conclusion There is substantial short-term motor unit synchronization between VM and VL. Intermuscular motor unit synchronization is enhanced for contractions during dynamic activities, possibly to facilitate a more accurate control of the joint torque, and reduced during single-leg tasks that require balance control and thus, a more independent muscle function. It is proposed that the central nervous system scales the degree of intermuscular motor unit synchronization according to the requirements of the movement task at hand.
A $Ku$ -Band Two-Antenna Four-Simultaneous Beams SiGe BiCMOS Phased Array Receiver

This paper presents a Ku-band SiGe BiCMOS phased array receive chip capable of forming four-simultaneous beams from two antenna inputs. The design is based on the all-RF architecture with 4-bit active phase shifters and 4-bit variable gain amplifiers in each channel. The four-beam chip results in a gain of 4-6 dB per channel at 13-15 GHz, a noise figure of 10-11 dB, a worst case input P1 dB of -14.3 dBm per channel (input third-order intercept point of -7 dBm), and an rms phase and gain error of < 12° and 1.5 dB, respectively. A gain control of 17 dB is also achieved with a phase change of < 5°. The four-beam chip was tested using two input signals and results in a gain of 9-11 dB at 13-15 GHz. The on-chip isolation between the channels has been fully characterized and is > 40 dB at 13-15 GHz. The chips can operate over an instantaneous bandwidth of > 1 GHz at any frequency from 13 to 15 GHz, and the four beams can be at the same frequency if required. With all digital control circuitry and electrostatic discharge protection for all I/O pads, the chip occupies an area of 2.4 × 4.3 mm2 and consumes 520 mA at 3.5-V supply voltage. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an all-RF phased array silicon chip capable of producing four-simultaneous beams from two different antennas or four-simultaneous beams of different polarizations from a dual polarization antenna. The application areas are in satellite communications and defense systems.
Reliable Broadcast of Safety Messages in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

Broadcast communications is critically important in vehicular networks. Many safety applications need safety warning messages to be broadcast to all vehicles present in an area. Design of a medium access control (MAC) protocol for vehicular networks is an interesting problem because of challenges posed by broadcast traffic, high mobility, high reliability and low delay requirements of these networks. In this article, we propose a topology-transparent broadcast protocol and present a detailed mathematical analysis for obtaining the probability of success and the average delay. We show, by analysis and simulations, that the proposed protocol outperforms two existing protocols for vehicular networks with topology-transparent properties and provides reliable broadcast communications for delivering safety messages under load conditions deemed to be common in vehicular environments.
Internet interventions for depression: new developments

A wide range of Internet interventions, mostly grounded in methods of cognitive behavioral therapy, have been developed and tested for several mental disorders. The evidence to date shows that these interventions are effective in reducing symptoms of depression. Metaanalyses report small-to-medium effect sizes when Internet interventions are delivered as stand-alone self-help interventions (d=0.25-0.36), and medium-to-large effect sizes when delivered as therapist-guided interventions (d=0.58-0.78), both compared with usual care. Only a minority of people suffering from depression receive adequate treatment, and Internet interventions might help bridge the large treatment gap. This review summarizes the current body of evidence and highlights pros and cons of Internet interventions. It also outlines how they could be implemented in mental health care systems and points out unresolved questions, as well as future directions, in this research field.
Which Stereotest do You Use? A Survey Research Study in the British Isles, the United States and Canada

A wide range of stereotests are available to measure stereopsis. Because each test has its own advantages and disadvantages, opinions differ on which is the preferred test to use in clinical practice. We conducted surveys comparing the use of stereotests in the British Isles and in the United States and Canada. Two online surveys were developed following consultation with eye care professionals, one for each geographical area. Both surveys included two questions on the frequency of use of different stereotests, two questions on best practice stereotests, and two questions on the usefulness of stereotests. Researchers made distinctions between appointments with children below or above 6 years old for respondents from the British Isles and below or above 5 years old for respondents from the Unites Stated and Canada. The surveys were distributed through professional organisations. We found Frisby to be the most used stereotest on the British Isles for both age groups. In the US and Canada, Titmus and Randot stereotest are more frequently used. Respondents consider these tests as the best practice stereotests. Eye care professionals agree stereotests are useful in the diagnosis and treatment decision making and even more so in obtaining an accurate measure of stereoacuity, especially with older children.
NEURAL NETWORKS BASED PATTERN RECOGNITION USING PERCEPTRON MODEL

A neural network is a processing device, in which its design is inspired by the design and functioning of human brain and their components. There is no idle memory containing data and programmed, but each neuron is programmed and continuously active. The objective of this paper is to present identification and recognition of data for Pattern recognition using Perceptron Algorithmic Approaches. Pattern recognition techniques are associated in symbolic identity with the image of the pattern. In this work, analyzed different neural network methods in pattern recognition, from several data sets within some set of data’s are used for training the network, and other sets of data are used to test the network. The testing will result in the approximate identification of the data patterns with tag value of 0 to 1. Various techniques used in this Perceptron Model are creating the pattern files, normalizing the files, training the neural network, adjustment of weights and parameters, network file creation and finally testing of the data for the pattern identification.
Peer development as an alternative to peer observation: a tool to enhance professional development

Many higher education institutions worldwide require that all academic staff undergo a peer observation of teaching each academic year. Within one department in a university in the South of England, questions have arisen about the value and purpose of the traditional ‘peer observation’ process, and as a result a new voluntary system of ‘peer development’ has been introduced. This paper explains the rationale underpinning the new peer development process, and explores its worth and value to those who have participated in it as a mechanism for professional development. Reflections on the process are considered, along with what can be done to improve the new system.
Survey on Different Machine Learning Techniques for Software Effort Estimation

Software development effort estimation is the process of predicting the effort required to develop or maintain software based on vague, incomplete or uncertain inputs. Accurate estimate of software development effort is required in the early stages of development life cycle for planning the development activities. Determination of software cost, allocation of resources, scheduling and monitoring of development activities are all dependent on the effort. Hence effort estimation is crucial for the control, quality and success of all software development projects. This paper provides an overview of the three general categories of estimation models namely; Expert Judgment based models, Algorithmic models and Non Algorithmic models. Moreover a comparison of different machine learning techniques, namely Fuzzy Logic, Artificial Neural Network, Case Based Reasoning and Fuzzy Neural Network is done in order to study which machine learning method is more suitable in which situation. Advantages and Disadvantages of these four machine learning techniques are identified as well as it was found that when applying these techniques to the COCOMO dataset the fuzzy logic and Fuzzy Neural Network showed better performance compared to other techniques. General Terms Software Effort Estimation, Project Planning.
Cancer Mortality by Country of Birth, Sex, and Socioeconomic Position in Sweden, 1961–2009

In 2010, cancer deaths accounted for more than 15% of all deaths worldwide, and this fraction is estimated to rise in the coming years. Increased cancer mortality has been observed in immigrant populations, but a comprehensive analysis by country of birth has not been conducted. We followed all individuals living in Sweden between 1961 and 2009 (7,109,327 men and 6,958,714 women), and calculated crude cancer mortality rates and age-standardized rates (ASRs) using the world population for standardization. We observed a downward trend in all-site ASRs over the past two decades in men regardless of country of birth but no such trend was found in women. All-site cancer mortality increased with decreasing levels of education regardless of sex and country of birth (p for trend <0.001). We also compared cancer mortality rates among foreign-born (13.9%) and Sweden-born (86.1%) individuals and determined the effect of education level and sex estimated by mortality rate ratios (MRRs) using multivariable Poisson regression. All-site cancer mortality was slightly higher among foreign-born than Sweden-born men (MRR = 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.07), but similar mortality risks was found among foreign-born and Sweden-born women. Men born in Angola, Laos, and Cambodia had the highest cancer mortality risk. Women born in all countries except Iceland, Denmark, and Mexico had a similar or smaller risk than women born in Sweden. Cancer-specific mortality analysis showed an increased risk for cervical and lung cancer in both sexes but a decreased risk for colon, breast, and prostate cancer mortality among foreign-born compared with Sweden-born individuals. Further studies are required to fully understand the causes of the observed inequalities in mortality across levels of education and countries of birth.
Multi-objective robust optimization model for social responsible closed-loop supply chain solved by non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm

In this study a supply chain network design model has been developed considering both forward and reverse flows through the supply chain. Total Cost, environmental factors such as CO2 emission, and social factors such as employment and fairness in providing job opportunities are considered in three separate objective functions. The model seeks to optimize the facility location problem along with determining network flows, type of technology, and capacity of manufacturers. Since the customer’s demand is tainted with high degree of uncertainty, a robust optimization approach is proposed to deal with this important issue. An efficient genetic algorithm is applied to determine the Pareto optimal solutions. Finally, a case study is conducted on steel industry to evaluate the efficiency of the developed model and solution algorithm.
Impact of packet aggregation on TCP performance in Wireless Mesh Networks

Recently, Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) have attracted attention as a way to provide alternative Internet connectivity to rural areas or communities. In WMNs, wireless access points communicate with each other wirelessly, forming a true wireless mesh based access network of mesh relay nodes (MRNs). A major problem is, however, scalability of WMNs as well as MAC and PHY layer overhead for packet transmission. Capacity of WMNs can be increased significantly by aggregating (combining) several smaller packets into larger ones. This has previously been demonstrated for voice flows where many packets are of small sizes. TCP could also benefit, as by aggregating several packets together there is a reduced collision risk between TCP DATA and TCP ACKs in addition to the reduced MAC layer contention. However, the traffic pattern when TCP is used is completely different from when voice and UDP flows are used, which sometimes requires different aggregation designs. In this paper, we investigate the impact of packet aggregation on TCP in Wireless Mesh Networks. Using several different scenarios we demonstrate that packet aggregation can not only increase capacity for TCP in such networks but also improve fairness and reduce end-to-end delay.
Models of the iron K_alpha fluorescence line and the Compton shoulder in irradiated accretion disk spectra

We present a full set of model atmosphere equations for the accretion disk around a supermassive black hole irradiated by hard X-ray lamp of power-law spectral distribution. Model equations allow for multiple Compton scattering of radiation on free electrons, and for large relative photon-electron energy exchange at the time of scattering. We present spectra in specific intensities integrated over the disk surface. Theoretical outgoing intensity spectra show soft X-ray excess below 1 keV, and distinct K_alpha and K_beta fluorescent lines of iron. We demonstrate the existence of the Compton Shoulder and claim that it can contribute to the asymmetry and equivalent widths of some observed Fe K_alpha lines in AGN. Our models exhibit the effect of limb-brightening in reflected X-rays.
ATM activation in hypoxia - causes and consequences

The DNA damage response is a complex signaling cascade that is triggered by cellular stress. This response is essential for the maintenance of genomic integrity and is considered to act as a barrier to the early stages of tumorigenesis. The integral role of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase in the response to DNA damaging agents is well characterized; however, ATM can also be activated by non-DNA damaging agents. In fact, much has been learnt recently about the mechanism of ATM activation in response to physiologic stresses such as hypoxia that do not induce DNA damage. Regions of low oxygen concentrations that occur in solid tumors are associated with a poor prognostic outcome irrespective of treatment modality. Severe levels of hypoxia induce replication stress and trigger the activation of DNA damage response pathways including ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR)- and ATM-mediated signaling. In this review, we discuss hypoxia-driven ATM signaling and the possible contribution of ATM activation in this context to tumorigenesis.