Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Auxin modulates the degradation rate of Aux/IAA proteins

Aux/IAA gene family members were first identified by their rapid transcriptional increase in response to auxin. Auxin/indole-3-acetic acid protein (Aux/IAA) luciferase (LUC) fusions expressed in Arabidopsis under control of a non-auxin-responsive promoter were used to monitor the effect of auxin on protein abundance independent of transcriptional regulation by auxin. After 2 hr in the presence of 1 μM exogenous dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D), a synthetic auxin, the levels of pea IAA6 (PSIAA6) and Arabidopsis IAA1 LUC activity were 35% and 67%, respectively, of mock-treated genetically identical seedlings, whereas the activity of LUC alone from equivalently treated seedlings remained unaltered. The steady-state level of an Aux/IAA fusion protein lacking domain II, one of the conserved domains found in all Aux/IAA proteins, was not reduced in the presence of auxin. Higher levels of exogenous auxin were required to affect the steady-state level of the PSIAA6∷LUC fusion with a point mutation in domain II. A 13-aa consensus sequence from domain II fused to LUC created an auxin-responsive fusion protein. The change in steady-state levels in response to auxin is extremely rapid, with a decrease in LUC activity detectable by 2 min after auxin application. Direct half-life measurements show that the decrease caused by exogenous auxin is due to the decrease in fusion protein half-life. These results suggest that auxin rapidly modulates the degradation rate of Aux/IAA proteins, with higher levels of auxin increasing the proteolytic rate of Aux/IAA family members.
Prevalence of Very Severe Headache in a Large US Metropolitan Area

Reliable data regarding prevalence of headache, in general, and migraine, in particular, remain elusive. Methodological inconsistencies and inadequacies are largely responsible. The present study uses a random sampling technique to assess the prevalence of very severe headache. Estimates of headache prevalence were obtained for two time periods: indeterminate/lifetime and the past three months. The resulting prevalence estimates were 20.4 and 15.2%, respectively, for women, and 11.2 and 8.8%, respectively, for men. The estimates are compared with those of previous studies. The present study is compared with these previous studies and suggestions are offered for future research. Aspects of the treatment experience of respondents with poorly controlled headache are also addressed.
A Peptide of Heparin Cofactor II Inhibits Endotoxin-Mediated Shock and Invasive Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection

Sepsis and septic shock remain important medical problems with high mortality rates. Today's treatment is based mainly on using antibiotics to target the bacteria, without addressing the systemic inflammatory response, which is a major contributor to mortality in sepsis. Therefore, novel treatment options are urgently needed to counteract these complex sepsis pathologies. Heparin cofactor II (HCII) has recently been shown to be protective against Gram-negative infections. The antimicrobial effects were mapped to helices A and D of the molecule. Here we show that KYE28, a 28 amino acid long peptide representing helix D of HCII, is antimicrobial against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as the fungus Candida albicans. Moreover, KYE28 binds to LPS and thereby reduces LPS-induced pro-inflammatory responses by decreasing NF-κB/AP-1 activation in vitro. In mouse models of LPS-induced shock, KYE28 significantly enhanced survival by dampening the pro-inflammatory cytokine response. Finally, in an invasive Pseudomonas infection model, the peptide inhibited bacterial growth and reduced the pro-inflammatory response, which lead to a significant reduction of mortality. In summary, the peptide KYE28, by simultaneously targeting bacteria and LPS-induced pro-inflammatory responses represents a novel therapeutic candidate for invasive infections.
Genetical Genomics: Spotlight on QTL Hotspots

Genetical genomics aims at identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for molecular traits such as gene expression or protein levels (eQTL and pQTL, respectively). One of the central concepts in genetical genomics is the existence of hotspots [1], where a single polymorphism leads to widespread downstream changes in the expression of distant genes, which are all mapping to the same genomic locus. Several groups have hypothesized that many genetic polymorphisms—e.g., in major regulators or transcription factors—would lead to large and consistent biological effects that would be visible as eQTL hotspots.
Layout-Conscious Optimization: Beyond Hybrid Row-Column Storage Model

Hybrid row-column storage model [1][4], a common database approach for both OLTP and OLAP, have attracted a lot of attention in the past few years. Previous works about hybrid row-column approach mainly focus on physical storage. In this paper, we propose the idea of Layout-Conscious Optimization(LCO), techniques that fully exploits possibilities and take advantages of hybrid row-column data layout in all layers of DBMS, e.g., physical storage, query processing as well as network transfer. We believe LCO offer new opportunities to improve the performance of DBMS. To demonstrate the power of LCO, we present the design of a row-column hybrid network transfer protocol for DBMS, which reduces data transfer by 75% while incurs little extra cost on CPU.
Sex Hormone Levels and Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Postmenopausal Women

Background—Despite diffuse effects of sex hormones on the cardiovascular system, few prospective studies have examined the relationship of plasma androgens and estrogens with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in postmenopausal women. Methods and Results—A nested case-control study was performed among women in the Women’s Health Study. Two hundred women who developed CVD were matched 1:1 by age, smoking, and postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) to controls who remained free of CVD. We measured testosterone, estradiol, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels and calculated free androgen index (FAI), free estradiol index, and the FAI/free estradiol index ratio. Results were stratified by HT use. Among HT nonusers, cases had significantly higher androgen profiles (higher median FAI and lower SHBG levels) than controls. After adjustment for age, smoking, use of aspirin, vitamin E, and alcohol, family history of myocardial infarction, and physical activity, nonusers in the lowest SHBG quartile had an OR of 2.25 (95% CI, 1.03 to 4.91) for CVD, and there were significant trends across FAI quartiles (P for trend=0.03). Additional adjustment for body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol eliminated associations with SHBG and FAI. Among women using HT, no significant differences in hormones or SHBG were observed among women who developed CVD and controls. Conclusions—Among HT nonusers, lower SHBG and higher FAI levels were noted among postmenopausal women who developed CVD events, but this was not independent of body mass index and other cardiovascular risk factors. Estradiol levels were not associated with risk of CVD in HT users or nonusers.
Monitoring a Landslide with High Accuracy by Total Station: A DTM-Based Model to Correct for the Atmospheric Effects

For the monitoring of large landslides, total stations equipped with an Electronic Distance Meter (EDM) are widely used. To obtain the atmospheric parameters, required along the line of sight of every measure, the data collected by a weather station close to the instrument are usually adopted. Even after these corrections, the results obtained in the monitoring of areas with complex topography don’t reach the accuracies theoretically attainable by the high-end instruments. The article proposes a method for removing the errors due to the influence of microclimate on the measurements obtained by a high-end EDM, in order to get the maximum accuracy obtainable from such instruments. The method is based on an atmospheric model, set up by using the climatic data and a digital terrain model (DTM) of the landslide area. The methodology has been applied to a landslide in southern Italy. Over 38,000 distances, acquired for each monitored point, were used. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method: the standard deviations of the distances after their correction, show a reduction, ranging from 20% to 50%, with respect to the most diffused procedures; furthermore, the obtained accuracy equals the one declared by the manufacturer of the instrument for measurements in optimal conditions.
Classifying and sorting cluttered piles of unknown objects with robots: A learning approach

We consider the problem of sorting a densely cluttered pile of unknown objects using a robot. This yet unsolved problem is relevant in the robotic waste sorting business. By extending previous active learning approaches to grasping, we show a system that learns the task autonomously. Instead of predicting just whether a grasp succeeds, we predict the classes of the objects that end up being picked and thrown onto the target conveyor. Segmenting and identifying objects from the uncluttered target conveyor, as opposed to the working area, is easier due to the added structure since the thrown objects will be the only ones present. Instead of trying to segment or otherwise understand the cluttered working area in any way, we simply allow the controller to learn a mapping from an RGBD image in the neighborhood of the grasp to a predicted result-all segmentation etc. in the working area is implicit in the learned function. The grasp selection operates in two stages: The first stage is hardcoded and outputs a distribution of possible grasps that sometimes succeed. The second stage uses a purely learned criterion to choose the grasp to make from the proposal distribution created by the first stage. In an experiment, the system quickly learned to make good pickups and predict correctly, in advance, which class of object it was going to pick up and was able to sort the objects from a densely cluttered pile by color.
Multiwavelength anomalous diffraction analysis at the M absorption edges of uranium

The multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) method for phase evaluation is now widely used in macromolecular crystallography. Successful MAD structure determinations have been carried out at the K or L absorption edges of a variety of elements. In this study, we investigate the anomalous scattering properties of uranium at its MIV (3.326 Å) and MV (3.490 Å) edge. Fluorescence spectra showed remarkably strong anomalous scattering at these edges (f′ = −70e, f′′ = 80e at the MIV edge and f′ = −90e, f′′ = 105e at the MV edge), many times higher than from any anomalous scatterers used previously for MAD phasing. However, the large scattering angles and high absorption at the low energies of these edges present some difficulties not found in typical crystallographic studies. We conducted test experiments at the MIV edge with crystals of porcine elastase derivatized with uranyl nitrate. A four-wavelength MAD data set complete to 3.2-Å Bragg spacings was collected from a single small frozen crystal. Analysis of the data yielded satisfactory phase information (average difference of 0ϕT − 0ϕA for replicated determinations is 32°) and produced an interpretable electron-density map. Our results demonstrate that it is practical to measure macromolecular diffraction data at these edges with current instrumentation and that phase information of good accuracy can be extracted from such experiments. We show that such experiments have potential for the phasing of very large macromolecular assemblages.
Physiological Properties of hERG 1a/1b Heteromeric Currents and a hERG 1b-Specific Mutation Associated With Long-QT Syndrome

Cardiac IKr is a critical repolarizing current in the heart and a target for inherited and acquired long-QT syndrome (LQTS). Biochemical and functional studies have demonstrated that IKr channels are heteromers composed of both hERG 1a and 1b subunits, yet our current understanding of IKr functional properties derives primarily from studies of homooligomers of the original hERG 1a isolate. Here, we examine currents produced by hERG 1a and 1a/1b channels expressed in HEK-293 cells at near-physiological temperatures. We find that heteromeric hERG 1a/1b currents are much larger than hERG 1a currents and conduct 80% more charge during an action potential. This surprising difference corresponds to a 2-fold increase in the apparent rates of activation and recovery from inactivation, thus reducing rectification and facilitating current rebound during repolarization. Kinetic modeling shows these gating differences account quantitatively for the differences in current amplitude between the 2 channel types. Drug sensitivity was also different. Compared to homomeric 1a channels, heteromeric 1a/1b channels were inhibited by E-4031 with a slower time course and a corresponding 4-fold shift in the IC50. The importance of hERG 1b in vivo is supported by the identification of a 1b-specific A8V missense mutation in 1/269 unrelated genotype-negative LQTS patients that was absent in 400 control alleles. Mutant 1bA8V expressed alone or with hERG 1a in HEK-293 cells dramatically reduced 1b protein levels. Thus, mutations specifically disrupting hERG 1b function are expected to reduce cardiac IKr and enhance drug sensitivity, and represent a potential mechanism underlying inherited or acquired LQTS.
Ergonomic assessment of natural rubber processing in plantations and small enterprises

espanolEste trabajo presenta un estudio exploratorio que usa la metodologia OWAS (Ovako Working Posture Analysing System, por sus siglas en ingles) para analizar las posturas de heveicultores y operarios de la industria del caucho durante sus actividades laborales. El estudio se realizo en pequenas plantaciones de una asociacion de cultivadores de caucho en Taraza, y en cinco pequenas empresas de Medellin e Itagui, en Antioquia-Colombia. Se analizaron los procesos in-situ, tomando registros mediante videos para posteriormente efectuar un analisis de los movimientos. Se encontro que los mayores riesgos ergonomicos para los heveicultores y los operarios de pequenas y medianas industrias de caucho son la generacion de trastornos musculoesqueleticos (TME) en la columna vertebral y la Back, con un nivel de riesgo 4. Se encontro tambien que el sangrado de los arboles, la recoleccion del latex, el mezclado en molino abierto de rodillos y la manipulacion de moldes fueron las cuatro actividades en las cuales se presentan los principales riesgos de postura. Al final del trabajo se proponen recomendaciones para evaluar y reducir los riesgos de postura en pequenas empresas de la cadena productiva del caucho natural. Se identifico que la reduccion de los riesgos de postura in la cadena productiva del caucho natural requiere disenar e implementar planes que consideren la cultura organizacional y factores socioeconomicos y sociodemograficos de los cultivadores de caucho natural y pequenas industrias fabricantes de articulos en caucho, ademas de la utilizacion de algunas herramientas que reducen la manipulacion de cargas pesadas. EnglishThis exploratory study used OWAS (Ovako Working Posture Analysing System) to analyze the working postures of natural rubber tappers and rubber industry workers. A community of natural rubber farmers of Taraza and five small companies of Medellin and Itagui, all of them allocated in Antioquia-Colombia, participated in this study. Processes were analyzed in-situ and videotapes of activities were recorded for carrying out a movement study. For an overall distribution of trunk postures, OWAS identified that a bent and twisted trunk posture which fell into action category 4, was the major poor posture for rubber tappers and rubber industry workers. This study also identified that latex tapping, latex collection, mixing in two roll mills and metallic molds operation were the four activities in which the major working posture risks were observed. It was found that reduction of posture risks in natural rubber production chain requires designing and implementing plans considering organizational culture, socio-economic and sociodemographic factors of natural rubber farmers and small rubber manufacturing industries, besides the use of some useful tools that reduce the handling of heavy loads.
The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC)

ECOSOC Resolution 2011/36 on Crime prevention and criminal justice responses against illicit trafficking in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, July 2011 Recognizing the efforts made at the bilateral, regional and international levels and the work of the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime, a collaboration among the secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the World Bank and the World Customs Organization, as well as the work of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in combating illicit trafficking in endangered species of wild fauna and flora,
The two-user Responsive Workbench: support for collaboration through individual views of a shared space

We present the two-user Responsive Workbench: a projectionbased virtual reality system that allows two people to simultaneously view individual stereoscopic image pairs from their own viewpoints. The system tracks the head positions of both users and computes four images one for each eye of each person. To display the four images as two stereo pairs, we must ensure each image is correctly presented to the appropriate eye. We describe a hardware solution to this display problem as well as registration and calibration procedures. These procedures ensure that when two users point to the same location on a virtual object, their fingers will physically touch. Since the stereo pairs are independent, we have the option of displaying specialized views of the shared virtual environment to each user. We present several scenarios in which specialized views might be useful. CR
Modelling perception using image processing algorithms

User modeling is widely used in HCI but there are very few systematic HCI modelling tools for people with disabilities. We are developing user models to help with the design and evaluation of interfaces for people with a wide range of abilities. We present a perception model that can work for some kinds of visually-impaired users as well as for able-bodied people. The model takes a list of mouse events, a sequence of bitmap images of an interface and locations of different objects in the interface as input, and produces a sequence of eye-movements as output. Our model can predict the visual search time for two different visual search tasks with significant accuracy for both able-bodied and visually-impaired people.
Bone marrow graft rejection as a function of antibody-directed natural killer cells

There is conclusive evidence that acute bone marrow transplant rejection in lethally irradiated mice is caused by natural killer (NK) cells. The rejection of marrow allografts is exquisitely specific and is controlled by antigenic determinants encoded in or near the H-2 gene complex. The specificity of in vivo marrow graft rejection contrasts with the in vitro specificity pattern of NK cells in cytotoxicity assays. We therefore examined how NK cells cause H-2-specific marrow graft rejection in vivo. Several experimental approaches are presented that suggest that natural antibody, present in responder strains of mice, specifically directs NK cells in an antibody-dependent cytolytic and/or cytostatic reaction, resulting in marrow graft rejection. The following evidence for this mechanism is documented. The ability to reject a marrow graft can be passively transferred by serum from responder to allogeneic nonresponder mice and the specificity of rejection can be mapped within the H-2 region. Serum-induced marrow graft rejection is abrogated following depletion of immunoglobulin, and the serum of responder mice is able to induce a specific antibody- dependent cytotoxic reaction in vitro.
Hierarchically penalized Cox regression with grouped variables

In many biological and other scientific applications, predictors are often naturally grouped. For example, in biological applications, assayed genes or proteins are grouped by biological roles or biological pathways. When studying the dependence of survival outcome on these grouped predictors, it is desirable to select variables at both the group level and the within-group level. In this article, we develop a new method to address the group variable selection problem in the Cox proportional hazards model. Our method not only effectively removes unimportant groups, but also maintains the flexibility of selecting variables within the identified groups. We also show that the new method offers the potential for achieving the asymptotic oracle property. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.
Distribution System Harmonic Compensation Methods: An Overview of DG-Interfacing Inverters

Today, many renewable energy-based distributed generation (DG) units are connected to the grid with interfacing converters. Therefore, the harmonic compensation functions can be realized through flexible control of these converters. This article reviews the distribution system harmonic compensation methods using the DG units with a focus on the DG local controllers. How to realize the harmonics compensation functions in the traditional current controlled and voltage-controlled DG systems is presented. A hybrid-control method (HCM) is also discussed, which features better compensation performance and more flexible compensation strategies. Other issues, including harmonics current sharing among the DG units, are also discussed in this article. With the harmonics compensation functions, future DG systems could actively participate in the distribution system power quality control activities.
The origins of the afferent fibers to the lingual muscles of the dog, a retrograde labeling study with horseradish peroxidase

The origin of the afferent fibers to the lingual muscles of the dog was investigated by means of retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) from injection sites in the tongue and the extrinsic lingual muscles. Intralingual injections were not satisfactory because the enzyme diffused beyond the intrinsic lingual muscles to include virtually all tissues within the tongue. Thus, the resultant retrograde labeling of cell bodies of the trigeminal, geniculate, glossopharyngeal, vagal, and first cervical (C1) spinal ganglia represented a composite of lingual sensory innervation.
Beware of the unicorn: Consciousness as being represented and other things that don't exist

Higher-Order Representational theories of consciousness — HORs — primarily seek to explain a mental state’s being conscious in terms of the mental state’s being represented by another mental state. First-Order Representational theories of consciousness — FORs — primarily seek to explain a property’s being phenomenal in terms of the property being represented in experience. Despite differences in both explanans and explananda, HORs and FORs share a reliance on there being such a property as being represented. In this paper I develop an argument — the Unicorn Argument — against both HORs and FORs. The core of the Unicorn is that since there are mental representations of things that do not exist, there cannot be any such property as being represented, and thus no such property with which to identify either being conscious or being phenomenal.