Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Direct evidence for a G-quadruplex in a promoter region and its targeting with a small molecule to repress c-MYC transcription

The nuclease hypersensitivity element III1 upstream of the P1 promoter of c-MYC controls 85–90% of the transcriptional activation of this gene. We have demonstrated that the purine-rich strand of the DNA in this region can form two different intramolecular G-quadruplex structures, only one of which seems to be biologically relevant. This biologically relevant structure is the kinetically favored chair-form G-quadruplex, which is destabilized when mutated with a single G → A transition, resulting in a 3-fold increase in basal transcriptional activity of the c-MYC promoter. The cationic porphyrin TMPyP4, which has been shown to stabilize this G-quadruplex structure, is able to suppress further c-MYC transcriptional activation. These results provide compelling evidence that a specific G-quadruplex structure formed in the c-MYC promoter region functions as a transcriptional repressor element. Furthermore, we establish the principle that c-MYC transcription can be controlled by ligand-mediated G-quadruplex stabilization.
Physico-chemical Composition and Processing Characteristics of Pearl Millet Varieties

Thirty eight pearl millet cultivars, comprising local varieties, popular and new hybrid lines, were evaluated for physico-chemical composition and processing characteristics, in addition to the correlation of the physico-chemical properties with processing qualities. Wide variations were observed in thousand-kernel weight (3.2-17.6 g), and volume (2.2-12.9 ml), and hardness (49.3-98.5 BU) of native seeds of the varieties, in addition to considerable variations in proteins (8.1-13.9%), starch (57.4-70.3%), fat (3.4-7.4%), and ash (1.2-2.4%) contents. The yield of pearled grains and brokens of millet varied from 80.0 to 96.8%, and 0.9 to 30.3%, respectively. The yield and expansion ratio of popped grains ranged from 8.3 to 77.1%, and 2.3 to 11.3%, respectively. Wide variations in the amylase activity (567-3141 maltose units) of malted millets were observed. The grain hardness correlated positively with protein content (r=0.35, p<0.05), amylase activity (r=0.38, p<0.05), but negatively with milling breakage (r=-0.37, p<0.05). Protein content showed a significant positive correlation with popping yield (r=0.36, p<0.05), and amylase activity (r=0.45, p<0.01), but negative correlation with milling breakage (r=0.34, p<0.05).
Pharmacotherapy of postpartum depression: an update

Introduction: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and serious illness that affects up to 14% of women in the first month after childbirth. We present an update on the pharmacologic treatment of PPD, although there continues to be a lack of large, randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Areas covered: A review of the literature on the use of antidepressants, hormonal supplements and omega-3 fatty acids for the prevention and the treatment of PPD published since the original review in 2009 and the authors' opinion on the current status of the pharmacological treatment of PPD are covered. An electronic search was performed by using PubMed, Medline and PsychINFO. Inclusion criteria were: i) empirical articles in peer-reviewed English-language journals; ii) well-validated measures of depression; and iii) a uniform scoring system for depression among the sample. Expert opinion: Since the last Expert Opinion review, four antidepressant treatment studies and one prevention study of PPD have been published. Six RCTs evaluating the use of omega-3 fatty acids (four for prevention and two for treatment) have been published. There continues to be lack of data regarding the pharmacotherapy of PPD. However, serotonin reuptake inhibitors should be considered first-line for women with PPD after it has been determined that the proper diagnosis is not bipolar disorder. It is important to individualize treatment for women with PPD and consider the risks and benefits of treatment while breastfeeding.
Mechanisms of Guided Bone Regeneration: A Review

Post-extraction crestal bone resorption is common and unavoidable which can lead to significant ridge dimensional changes. To regenerate enough bone for successful implant placement, Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) is often required. GBR is a surgical procedure that uses barrier membranes with or without particulate bone grafts or/and bone substitutes. There are two approaches of GBR in implant therapy: GBR at implant placement (simultaneous approach) and GBR before implant placement to increase the alveolar ridge or improve ridge morphology (staged approach). Angiogenesis and ample blood supply play a critical role in promoting bone regeneration.
The Assembly-Inducing Laulimalide/Peloruside A Binding Site on Tubulin: Molecular Modeling and Biochemical Studies with [3H]Peloruside A

We used synthetic peloruside A for the commercial preparation of [³H]peloruside A. The radiolabeled compound bound to preformed tubulin polymer in amounts stoichiometric with the polymer's tubulin content, with an apparent K(d) value of 0.35 μM. A less active peloruside A analogue, (11-R)-peloruside A and laulimalide acted as competitive inhibitors of the binding of the [³H]peloruside A, with apparent K(i) values of 9.3 and 0.25 μM, respectively. Paclitaxel, epothilone B, and discodermolide had essentially no ability to inhibit [³H]peloruside A binding, confirming that these compounds bind to a different site on tubulin polymer. We modeled both laulimalide and peloruside A into the binding site on β-tubulin that was identified by Huzil et al. (J. Mol. Biol. 2008, 378, 1016-1030), but our model provides a more reasonable structural basis for the protein-ligand interaction. There is a more complete desolvation of the peloruside A ligand and a greater array of favorable hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions exhibited by peloruside A at its β-tubulin binding site. In addition, the protein architecture in our peloruside A binding model was suitable for binding laulimalide. With the generation of both laulimalide and peloruside A binding models, it was possible to delineate the structural basis for the greater activity of laulimalide relative to peloruside A and to rationalize the known structure-activity relationship data for both compounds.
Design of oversampled uniform DFT filter banks with reduced inband aliasing and delay constraints

Subband adaptive filters have been proposed to avoid the drawbacks of slow convergence and high computational complexity associated with time domain adaptive filters for acoustic echo cancellation. Subband processing introduces transmission delays caused by the filter bank and signal degradations due to aliasing effects. One efficient way to reduce the aliasing effects is to allow a higher sample rate than critically needed in the subbands and thus reduce subband signal degradation. We suggest a design method, for a uniform DFT filter bank with any over sampling factor, where the total filter bank group delay may be specified, and where the aliasing and magnitude/phase distortions are minimized.
Nerve Root Sedimentation Sign for the Diagnosis of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Reliability, Sensitivity, and Specificity

Study Design. Retrospective review of magnetic resonance images. Objective. Examine the diagnostic accuracy, discriminative ability, and reliability of the sedimentation sign in a sample of patients with clinically diagnosed lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), low back pain (LBP), and vascular claudication, and in asymptomatic controls. Summary of Background Data. The nerve root sedimentation sign (SedSign) was recently described as a new diagnostic test for LSS; however, the degree to which this sign is sensitive and specific in diagnosis of LSS is unknown. Methods. All LSS images were obtained from subjects who had clinically diagnosed LSS confirmed on imaging by a spine specialist. The other images were obtained from people with LBP but no LSS, people with severe vascular claudication, and asymptomatic participants. Three blinded raters independently assessed the images. A positive sign was defined as the absence of nerve root sedimentation at the level above or below the level of maximum stenosis. Results. Images from 148 subjects were reviewed (67 LSS, 31 LBP, 4 vascular, and 46 asymptomatic). Intrarater reliability for the sign ranged from &kgr;= 0.87 to 0.97 and inter-rater reliability from 0.62 to 0.69. Sensitivity ranged from 42% to 66%, and specificity ranged from 49% to 78%. Sensitivity improved to a range of 60% to 96% when images with only a smallest cross-sectional area of the dural sac less than 80 mm2 were included. The sign was able to differentiate (P = 0.004) between LSS and asymptomatic controls but not between LSS and LBP or between LSS and vascular claudication. Conclusion. The SedSign was shown to have high intrarater reliability and acceptable inter-rater reliability. The Sign appears most sensitive in defining severe LSS cases, yet may not aid in the differential diagnosis of LSS from LBP or vascular claudication, or add any specific diagnostic information beyond the traditional history, physical examination, and imaging studies that are standard in LSS diagnosis. Level of Evidence: 4
Growth Rates for Subclasses of Av(321)

Pattern classes which avoid 321 and other patterns are shown to have the same growth rates as similar (but strictly larger) classes obtained by adding articulation points to any or all of the other patterns. The method of proof is to show that the elements of the latter classes can be represented as bounded merges of elements of the original class, and that the bounded merge construction does not change growth rates.
Visual detection of subsurface defects using enhanced magneto-optic imaging system

An enhanced magneto-optic (MO) imaging system is presented to detect the invisible and buried subsurface flaws in metallic specimens. The choice of the MO thin films, the design of the magnetic excitation device and the development of the image processing approaches are presented in this paper and the quality improvement in MO imaging has been demonstrated due to the proposed methods. Experimental results have been provided and verify the reliability and accuracy of the enhanced MO imaging system.
A model of Demand Response scheduling for cement plant

The purpose of Demand Response (DR) is to guarantee that the power grid runs in an efficient and stable status by letting the consumers participate in the grid operation. Numerous studies of DR modeling and analysis are implemented for consumers in the residential and commercial sectors, while the studies on the DR in the industrial sector are relatively immature. The ability to participate in DR differs due to the differences in the production processes of different industries. In this paper, we analyze the process and characteristics of cement production, one of the biggest industrial power consumers in China. A simulation model for cement plant based on the start probability of process equipment is also described. Simulation results of a case study show how the plant's loads shift under a Time-of-use (TOU) application.
Effect of surface modification of silicon carbide nanoparticles on the properties of nanocomposites based on epoxidized natural rubber/natural rubber blends

Improvement of the properties of rubber nanocomposites is a challenge for the rubber industry because of the need for higher performance materials. Addition of a nanometer-sized filler such as silicon carbide (SiC) to enhance the mechanical properties of rubber nanocomposites has rarely been attempted. The main problem associated with using SiC nanoparticles as a reinforcing natural rubber (NR) filler compound is poor dispersion of SiC in the NR matrix because of their incompatibility. To solve this problem, rubber nanocomposites were prepared with SiC that had undergone surface modification with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and used as a filler in blends of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and natural rubber. The effect of surface modification and ENR content on the curing characteristics, dynamic mechanical properties, morphology and heat buildup of the blends were investigated. The results showed that modification of SiC with AIBN resulted in successful bonding to the surface of SiC. It was found that modified SiC nanoparticles were well dispersed in the ENR/NR matrix, leading to good filler-rubber interaction and improved compatibility between the rubber and filler in comparison with unmodified SiC. The mechanical properties and heat buildup when modified SiC was used as filled in ENR/NR blends were improved. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45289.
THE DRAGONFLY FLIGHT BY A PAIR OF WINGS AND FREQUENCY CHARACTERISTICS OF WINGS

This paper describes the dragonfly flight by a pair of wings and the frequency characteristics of dragonfly wings related to the aerodynamic characteristics. In the first place, free flight by two pairs of wings and a pair of wings of dragonflies was analyzed with a high-speed video camera system. It was confirmed that the dragonfly can fly by a pair of wings. In the second place, the tethered flight of a fly was also studied for comparison. It was confirmed that insect wings undergo strong deformation during the flight. In the third place, the surface shape of dragonfly wings was measured by the three-dimensional, optical shape measuring system. It was clear that the difference of elevation was especially remarkable between the longitudinal veins at the leading edge part. In the fourth place, the dynamic responses of dragonfly wings to the excitation vibration were examined over the relatively wide range of frequency. It was found that natural frequency of dragonfly wings was related to the flapping frequency of the dragonfly.
Positive and Negative Regulation of  V(D)J Recombination by the E2A Proteins

A key feature of B and T lymphocyte development is the generation of antigen receptors through the rearrangement and assembly of the germline variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) gene segments. However, the mechanisms responsible for regulating developmentally ordered gene rearrangements are largely unknown. Here we show that the E2A gene products are essential for the proper coordinated temporal regulation of V(D)J rearrangements within the T cell receptor (TCR) γ and δ loci. Specifically, we show that E2A is required during adult thymocyte development to inhibit rearrangements to the γ and δ V regions that normally recombine almost exclusively during fetal thymocyte development. The continued rearrangement of the fetal Vγ3 gene segment in E2A-deficient adult thymocytes correlates with increased levels of Vγ3 germline transcripts and increased levels of double-stranded DNA breaks at the recombination signal sequence bordering Vγ3. Additionally, rearrangements to a number of Vγ and Vδ gene segments used predominately during adult development are significantly reduced in E2A-deficient thymocytes. Interestingly, at distinct stages of T lineage development, both the increased and decreased rearrangement of particular Vδ gene segments is highly sensitive to the dosage of the E2A gene products, suggesting that the concentration of the E2A proteins is rate limiting for the recombination reaction involving these Vδ regions.
Pricing-based spectrum access control in cognitive radio networks with random access

Market-based mechanisms offer promising approaches for spectrum access in cognitive radio networks. In this paper, we focus on two market models, one with a monopoly primary user (PU) market and the other with a multiple PU market, where each PU sells its temporarily unused spectrum to secondary users (SUs). We propose a pricing-based spectrum trading mechanism that enables SUs to contend for channel usage by random access, in a distributed manner, which naturally mitigates the complexity and time overhead associated with centralized scheduling. For the monopoly PU market model, we first consider SUs contending via slotted Aloha. The revenue maximization problems here are nonconvex. We first characterize the Pareto optimal region, and then obtain a Pareto optimal solution that maximizes the SUs' throughput subject to the SUs' budget constraints. To mitigate the spectrum underutilization due to the “price of contention,” we revisit the problem where SUs contend via CSMA, and show that spectrum utilization is enhanced, resulting in higher revenue. When the PU's unused spectrum is a control parameter, we study further the tradeoff between the PU's utility and its revenue. For the multiple PU market model, we cast the competition among PUs as a three-stage Stackelberg game, where each SU selects a PU's channel to maximize its throughput. We characterize the Nash equilibria, in terms of access prices and the spectrum offered to SUs. Our findings reveal that the number of equilibria exhibits a phase transition phenomenon, in the sense that when the number of PUs is greater than a threshold, there exist infinitely many equilibria; otherwise, there exists a unique Nash equilibrium, where the access prices and spectrum opportunities are determined by the budgets/elasticity of SUs and the utility level of PUs.
Strainlocalizationandcyclicdamageofpolyurethanefoam cylinders: experimental tests and theoretical model

Uniaxial compression tests performed by the authors on polyurethane foam cylinders show the typical stress-strain response curve of cellular materials, consisting of two ascending branches, separated by an almost horizontal plateau in which strain localization is observed. With less evidence, the same three regimes appear at unloading. Under cyclic deformation there is a progressive decay of the loading curve, while the unloading curve remains essentially the same at all cycles. To describe this complex response we propose a rheological model, in which the foam is represented as a chain of nonlinear elastic springs with a non-convex strain energy, connected in parallel with a series of springs subject to progressive damage. The chain of springs models the strain localization, and the second series of springs reproduces the cyclic response. The overall stress-strain behavior of the model is in a good qualitative agreement with the experiments.
Natural History of Stuttering to 4 Years of Age: A Prospective Community-Based Study

OBJECTIVES: To document the natural history of stuttering by age 4 years, including (1) cumulative incidence of onset, (2) 12-month recovery status, (3) predictors of stuttering onset and recovery, and (4) potential comorbidities. The study cohort was a prospective community-ascertained cohort (the Early Language in Victoria Study) from Melbourne, Australia, of 4-year-old children (n = 1619; recruited at age 8 months) and their mothers. METHODS: Outcome was stuttering onset by age 4 years and recovery within 12 months of onset, defined using concurrent monthly parent and speech pathologist ratings. Potential predictors: child gender, birth weight, birth order, prematurity, and twinning; maternal mental health and education; socioeconomic status; and family history of stuttering. Potential comorbidities: preonset and concurrent temperament, language, nonverbal cognition, and health-related quality of life. RESULTS: By age 4 years, the cumulative incidence of stuttering onset was 11.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.7% to 12.8%). Higher maternal education (P = .004), male gender (P = .02), and twinning (P = .005) predicted stuttering onset. At outcome, stuttering children had stronger language (mean [SD]: 105.0 [13.0] vs 99.6 [14.6]; mean difference 5.5, 95% CI: 3.1 to 7.8; P < .001) and nonverbal cognition (mean [SD]: 106.5 [11.4] vs 103.9 [13.7], mean difference 2.6, 95% CI: 0.4 to 4.8; P = .02) and better health-related quality of life but were otherwise similar to their nonstuttering peers. Only 9 of 142 children (6.3%; 95% CI: 2.9% to 11.7%) recovered within 12 months of onset. CONCLUSIONS: Although stuttering onset is common in preschoolers, adverse affects are not the norm in the first year after onset.
Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury

Stem cells (SCs) represent a new therapeutic approach for spinal cord injury (SCI) by enabling improved sensory and motor functions in animal models. The main goal of SC-based therapy for SCI is the replacement of neurons and glial cells that undergo cell death soon after injury. Stem cells are able to promote remyelination via oligodendroglia cell replacement to produce trophic factors enhancing neurite outgrowth, axonal elongation, and fiber density and to activate resident or transplanted progenitor cells across the lesion cavity. While several SC transplantation strategies have shown promising yet partial efficacy, mechanistic proof is generally lacking and is arguably the largest impediment toward faster progress and clinical application. The main challenge ahead is to spur on cooperation between clinicians, researchers, and patients in order to define and optimize the mechanisms of SC function and to establish the ideal source/s of SCs that produce efficient and also safe therapeutic approaches.
Hantavirus in African Wood Mouse, Guinea

Hantaviruses are rodentborne, emerging viruses that cause life-threatening human diseases in Eurasia and the Americas. We detected hantavirus genome sequences in an African wood mouse (Hylomyscus simus) captured in Sangassou, Guinea. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the genetic material demonstrate a novel hantavirus species, which we propose to name "Sangassou virus. "
Amoebal Endosymbiont Neochlamydia Genome Sequence Illuminates the Bacterial Role in the Defense of the Host Amoebae against Legionella pneumophila

Previous work has shown that the obligate intracellular amoebal endosymbiont Neochlamydia S13, an environmental chlamydia strain, has an amoebal infection rate of 100%, but does not cause amoebal lysis and lacks transferability to other host amoebae. The underlying mechanism for these observations remains unknown. In this study, we found that the host amoeba could completely evade Legionella infection. The draft genome sequence of Neochlamydia S13 revealed several defects in essential metabolic pathways, as well as unique molecules with leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and ankyrin domains, responsible for protein-protein interaction. Neochlamydia S13 lacked an intact tricarboxylic acid cycle and had an incomplete respiratory chain. ADP/ATP translocases, ATP-binding cassette transporters, and secretion systems (types II and III) were well conserved, but no type IV secretion system was found. The number of outer membrane proteins (OmcB, PomS, 76-kDa protein, and OmpW) was limited. Interestingly, genes predicting unique proteins with LRRs (30 genes) or ankyrin domains (one gene) were identified. Furthermore, 33 transposases were found, possibly explaining the drastic genome modification. Taken together, the genomic features of Neochlamydia S13 explain the intimate interaction with the host amoeba to compensate for bacterial metabolic defects, and illuminate the role of the endosymbiont in the defense of the host amoebae against Legionella infection.