Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ubiquitin Ligase ATL31 Functions in Leaf Senescence in Response to the Balance Between Atmospheric CO2 and Nitrogen Availability in Arabidopsis

Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) are essential elements for metabolism, and their availability, called the C/N balance, must be tightly coordinated for optimal growth in plants. Previously, we have identified the ubiquitin ligase CNI1/ATL31 as a novel C/N regulator by screening plants grown on C/N stress medium containing excess sugar and limited N. To elucidate further the effect of C/N balance on plant growth and to determine the physiological function of ATL31, we performed C/N response analysis using an atmospheric CO2 manipulation system. Under conditions of elevated CO2 and sufficient N, plant biomass and total sugar and starch dramatically increased. In contrast, elevated CO2 with limited N did not increase plant biomass but promoted leaf chlorosis, with anthocyanin accumulation and increased senescence-associated gene expression. Similar results were obtained with plants grown in medium containing excess sugar and limited N, suggesting that disruption of the C/N balance affects senescence progression. In ATL31-overexpressing plants, promotion of senescence under disrupted CO2/N conditions was repressed, whereas in the loss-of-function mutant it was enhanced. The ATL31 gene was transcriptionally up-regulated under N deficiency and in senescent leaves, and ATL31 expression was highly correlated with WRKY53 expression, a key regulator of senescence. Furthermore, transient protoplast analysis implicated the direct activation of ATL31 expression by WRKY53, which was in accordance with the results of WRKY53 overexpression experiments. Together, these results demonstrate the importance of C/N balance in leaf senescence and the involvement of ubiquitin ligase ATL31 in the process of senescence in Arabidopsis.
Bone marrow hematons: An access point to the human hematopoietic niche

To understand the complex interactions between hematopoietic stem cells and the bone marrow niche, a human experimental model is needed. Our hypothesis is that hematons are an appropriate ex vivo model of human bone marrow. We analyzed the hierarchical hematopoietic cell content and the tissue organization of single hematons from healthy donors. Most (>90%) hematons contained precursors of all cell lineages, myeloid progenitors, and LTC‐ICs without preferential commitment. Approximately, half of the hematons could generate significant levels of lympho‐myeloid hematopoiesis after transplantation in an NSG mouse model, despite the low absolute numbers of transplanted CD34+ cells. Mesenchymal STRO‐1+ and/or CD271+ cells formed a critical network that preserved hematon cohesion, and STRO‐1+ cells colocalized with most hematopoietic CD34+ cells (68%). We observed an influence of age and gender. These structures represent a particularly attractive model for studying the homeostasis of the bone marrow niche and pathological changes that occur during diseases.
Riemannian manifolds with maximal eigenfunction growth

On any compact Riemannian manifold $(M, g)$ of dimension $n$, the $L^2$-normalized eigenfunctions $\{\phi_{\lambda}\}$ satisfy $||\phi_{\lambda}||_{\infty} \leq C \lambda^{\frac{n-1}{2}}$ where $-\Delta \phi_{\lambda} = \lambda^2 \phi_{\lambda}. $ The bound is sharp in the class of all $(M, g)$ since it is obtained by zonal spherical harmonics on the standard $n$-sphere $S^n$. But of course, it is not sharp for many Riemannian manifolds, e.g. flat tori $\R^n/\Gamma$. We say that $S^n$, but not $\R^n/\Gamma$, is a Riemannian manifold with maximal eigenfunction growth. The problem which motivates this paper is to determine the $(M, g)$ with maximal eigenfunction growth. Our main result is that such an $(M, g)$ must have a point $x$ where the set ${\mathcal L}_x$ of geodesic loops at $x$ has positive measure in $S^*_x M$. We show that if $(M, g)$ is real analytic, this puts topological restrictions on $M$, e.g. only $M = S^2$ (topologically) in dimension 2 can possess a real analytic metric of maximal eigenfunction growth. We further show that generic metrics on any $M$ fail to have maximal eigenfunction growth. In addition, we construct an example of $(M, g)$ for which ${\mathcal L}_x$ has positive measure for an open set of $x$ but which does not have maximal eigenfunction growth, thus disproving a naive converse to the main result.
Dissociated spatial patterning of gap junctions and cell adhesion junctions during postnatal differentiation of ventricular myocardium.

Nonuniformity in the spatial patterning of gap junctions between heart muscle cells is now recognized as an important determinant of electromechanical function in working myocardium. Breakdown of the normal geometry of electrical intercellular connectivity in diseased myocardium correlates with reentry, arrhythmia, and conduction disturbance. The developmental mechanism(s) that determines this precise spatial order in gap junction organization in normal myocardium is at present unknown. To examine this question, we have used immunoelectron and immunoconfocal microscopy to analyze the spatial distributions of gap junctional (connexin43), desmosomal (desmoplakin), and adherens junctional (N-cadherin) components during maturation of rodent and canine left ventricular myocardium. In rats, a striking divergence in the distribution of gap junctions and cell adhesion junctions emerged within the first 20 days of postnatal life. It was found that although gap junctions initially demonstrated dispersed distributions across myocyte cell membranes, desmosomes and adherens junctions showed more rapid polarization toward cell termini (ie, nascent intercalated disks) after birth. Over subsequent postnatal development (20 to 90 postnatal days), gap junctions became progressively concentrated in these cell adhesion junction-rich zones of membrane. Quantitative analyses of this process in a series of rats aged 15 embryonic and 1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 70, and 90 postnatal days indicated that significantly higher levels (P < .01) of N-cadherin and desmoplakin than of connexin43 were immunolocalized to cell termini by as early as postnatal day 5. Although all three junctions types showed increasing polarization to myocyte termini with development, variation between junctions remained significant (P < .05) at all times points between 5 and 70 postnatal days. Only at 90 postnatal days, when the animals were nearly full grown, did the proportions of gap junction, desmosome, and adherens junction at intercalated disks become statistically similar (P > .05). Examination of myocardium from 1- and 3-month-old canines revealed that related differential changes to the spatiotemporal distribution of intercellular junctions occurred during postnatal maturation of the dog heart, suggesting that the process was not rodent specific. It is concluded that this progressive change in the organization and pattern of association between gap junctions and cell adhesion junctions is likely to be an important factor in maturation of electromechanical function within the mammalian heart.
Orientation and Navigation Relative to Water Flow, Prey, Conspecifics, and Predators by the Nudibranch Mollusc Tritonia diomedea

Progress in understanding sensory and locomotory systems in Tritonia diomedea has created the potential for the neuroethological study of animal navigation in this species. Our goal is to describe the navigational behaviors to guide further work on how the nervous system integrates information from multiple senses to produce oriented locomotion. Observation of T. diomedea in its habitat has suggested that it uses water flow to navigate relative to prey, predators, and conspecifics. We test these hypotheses in the field by comparing slug orientation in time-lapse videos to flow direction in circumstances with and without prey, predators, or conspecifics upstream. T. diomedea oriented upstream both while crawling and after turning. This trend was strongest before feeding or mating; after feeding or mating, the slugs did not orient significantly to flow. Slugs turned downstream away from an upstream predator but did not react in control situations without an upstream predator. These data support the hypothesis that T. diomedea uses a combination of odors (or some other cue transported downstream) and water flow to navigate relative to prey, predators, and conspecifics. Understanding the context-dependent choice between upstream and downstream crawling in T. diomedea provides an opportunity for further work on the sensory integration underlying navigation behavior.
Estimation of gestational age from fundal height: a solution for resource-poor settings

Many women in resource-poor settings lack access to reliable gestational age assessment because they do not know their last menstrual period; there is no ultrasound (US) and methods of newborn gestational age dating are not practised by birth attendants. A bespoke multiple-measures model was developed to predict the expected date of delivery determined by US. The results are compared with both a linear and a nonlinear model. Prospectively collected early US and serial symphysis-pubis fundal height (SFH) data were used in the models. The data were collected from Karen and Burmese women attending antenatal care on the Thai–Burmese border. The multiple-measures model performed best, resulting in a range of accuracy depending on the number of SFH measures recorded per mother (for example six SFH measurements resulted in a prediction accuracy of ±2 weeks). SFH remains the proxy for gestational age in much of the resource-poor world. While more accurate measures should be encouraged, we demonstrate that a formula that incorporates at least three SFH measures from an individual mother and the slopes between them provide a significant increase in the accuracy of prediction compared with the linear and nonlinear formulae also using multiple SFH measures.
Morphologic Changes in Round Window Membrane After Topical Hydrocortisone and Dexamethasone Treatment

Hypothesis Are all glucocorticoids supposed to have the same effect on the round window membrane? Background Interest in glucocorticoids for topical treatment of inner ear diseases is increasing. The safety of such treatment should therefore be an important consideration before clinical use. Methods In this study the authors investigated the morphology of the round window membrane after topical instillation of dexamethasone or hydrocortisone into the middle ear. Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Five rats received 5 doses, and five rats 10 doses, of 1 &mgr;g (20&mgr;l) dexamethasone in the right ear, and five others were given 5 doses, and five rats 10 doses, of 2% (20&mgr;l) hydrocortisone solution, also in the right ear. Membrane morphology was studied in both light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The thickness of exposed membranes was measured and compared with that of control membranes. Results Thickening and microscopically signs of inflammation were observed in hydrocortisone-exposed membranes but not in dexamethasone-exposed membranes, which did not differ morphologically from those in control ears. Conclusion Although hydrocortisone has anti-inflammatory properties, it seems to provoke inflammation in the round window membrane after topical instillation. Dexamethasone had no such effects, however.
Tuberculosis in Elephants: Antibody Responses to Defined Antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Potential for Early Diagnosis, and Monitoring of Treatment

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB) in elephants is a re-emerging zoonotic disease caused primarily by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Current diagnosis relies on trunk wash culture, the only officially recognized test, which has serious limitations. Innovative and efficient diagnostic methods are urgently needed. Rapid identification of infected animals is a crucial prerequisite for more effective control of TB, as early diagnosis allows timely initiation of chemotherapy. Serology has diagnostic potential, although key antigens have not been identified and optimal immunoassay formats are not established. To characterize the humoral responses in elephant TB, we tested 143 serum samples collected from 15 elephants over time. These included 48 samples from five culture-confirmed TB cases, of which four were in Asian elephants infected with M. tuberculosis and one was in an African elephant with Mycobacterium bovis. Multiantigen print immunoassay (MAPIA) employing a panel of 12 defined antigens was used to identify serologic correlates of active disease. ESAT-6 was the immunodominant antigen recognized in elephant TB. Serum immunoglobulin G antibodies to ESAT-6 and other proteins were detected up to 3.5 years prior to culture of M. tuberculosis from trunk washes. Antibody levels to certain antigens gradually decreased in response to antitubercular therapy, suggesting the possibility of treatment monitoring. In addition to MAPIA, serum samples were evaluated with a recently developed rapid test (RT) based on lateral flow technology (ElephantTB STAT-PAK). Similarly to MAPIA, infected elephants were identified using the RT up to 4 years prior to positive culture. These findings demonstrate the potential for TB surveillance and treatment monitoring using the RT and MAPIA, respectively.
Enhancements in query evaluation and page summarization of The Thinking Algorithm

This paper explores a unique way in which the thinking algorithm adds an extra logical substrate to a Web search query using artificial intelligence. Instead of just going after keyword searching, the algorithm tries to assess the motives of the user behind entering a query. The algorithm tries to find the reasons as to why a user has entered a particular query by adding this question with every query: ldquoSitting in a particular region, why has the person entered such a query? rdquo The compounded uniqueness level applies the concept of geo-location searches. The algorithm allots competency level to the user from the query term using topic trees. The query parsers and indexers in the algorithm are more magnetized into extracting meaningful information from queries and web pages than just indexing the words present in a web page. Clustering the search results help to resolve the ambiguity in a userpsilas query.
Habitual vs optimal distance visual acuity

Purpose: The maintenance of a good level of vision is desirable for developmental and social reasons; it is also a requirement that should not be overlooked in the clinical research environment. This study set out to quantify and analyse any difference between ‘habitual’ (pre‐sight test) and ‘optimal’ (post‐refraction) distance visual acuity in an optometric population. It is intended that the outcome of this work will inform not only clinicians but also those undertaking vision research.
Gap junctions promote the bystander effect of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase in vivo.

Transfer of the herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene (HSVtk) into tumor cells followed by the administration of ganciclovir (GCV) provides a potential strategy for the treatment of some malignancies. During GCV treatment, not only the cells that express the HSVtk gene are killed but also frequently neighboring tumor cells that are not genetically altered. This has been called the "bystander effect. " Although the mechanism of the bystander effect in vivo remains elusive, our results suggest that gap junction formation between neighboring cells is an important contributing factor. The C6 rat glioma cell line, which exhibits a low level of intercellular communication by gap junctions and connexin43 (Cx43)-transfected clones of this cell line forming gap junctions from a moderate level (Cx43-12 and Cx43-14) to a high level (Cx43-13), were transduced with HSVtk. Transduced and nontransduced cells were mixed in various concentrations and then cultured in vitro or injected s.c. into C.B-17/SCID-beige mice followed by i.p. injections of GCV. Cx43-transfected clones showed a significant increase of the bystander effect compared with the less coupled C6 parental cell line. In 11 of 12 mice injected with cells of Cx43-transfected clones, no tumors were seen at the inoculation site when a mixture of 50% HSVtk-negative and HSVtk-positive cells was used. Moreover, in mice injected with cells of clone Cx43-13, which exhibits the highest intercellular communication, tumors were frequently undetectable at the inoculation site when using mixtures of 75% HSVtk-negative and 25% HSVtk-positive cells, and even mixtures containing 5% HSVtk-positive cells of Cx43-transfected clones showed tumor size reduction. All animals in control groups (n = 26) developed large tumors at every injection site. These results demonstrate that gap junctions are an important component in mediating the bystander effect in vivo.
The FAS -670A>G polymorphism influences susceptibility to systemic sclerosis phenotypes.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the possible role of the FAS -670A>G functional polymorphism in the genetic predisposition to systemic sclerosis (SSc) susceptibility or clinical phenotype. METHODS A total of 2,900 SSc patients and 3,186 healthy controls were included in this study. We analyzed the genotype and allele frequencies of the FAS -670A>G polymorphism in 9 distinct ethnic cohorts, including 6 cohorts of European ancestry (a Spanish cohort of 228 SSc patients and 265 controls, a Dutch cohort of 203 SSc patients and 277 controls, a German cohort of 313 SSc patients and 247 controls, an Italian cohort of 323 SSc cases and 89 controls, a British cohort of 269 SSc patients, and a Swedish cohort of 182 patients) and 3 distinct ethnic cohorts from the US (a cohort of 1,047 white patients and 692 controls, a cohort of 159 Hispanic patients and 137 controls, and a cohort of 176 black SSc patients and 194 controls). Genotyping was performed using a TaqMan 5' allelic discrimination assay. RESULTS In the British, Italian, and American white cohorts we observed an association of the FAS -670G allele with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) (odds ratios [ORs] 1.25, 1.43, and 1.18, respectively). A meta-analysis comprising all 9 cohorts revealed an association of both the FAS -670G allele (OR 1.10) and the FAS -670GG genotype (OR 1.13) with the lcSSc phenotype. In a meta-analysis including only white subjects, both the FAS -670G allele and the FAS -670GG genotype remained associated with lcSSc (allele OR 1.12; genotype OR 1.16). In addition, a recessive model of the -670GG genotype exhibited a strong association with SSc, lcSSc, and anticentromere antibody-positive lcSSc (OR 1.23, OR 1.33, and OR 1.45, respectively). CONCLUSION Our data show that the FAS -670A>G polymorphism plays a role in lcSSc susceptibility. A similar trend has been observed in other autoimmune diseases.
A 6-bit phase shifter with low RMS phase error and flat gain across 1.9–2.6GHz

This paper presents a 6-bit phase shifter with a low root-mean-square (RMS) phase error and a flat gain across 1.9-2.6GHz. An input balun which utilizes a differential signal correction system consisting of two capacitor-cross-coupled (CCC) pairs and one CCC buffer is realized to ensure good phase and amplitude balance. Based on the relationship of the W/L of DAC cells, an encode rule which makes the 6-bit input generate eight DAC code is presented. A gain compensation technique is employed to realize a flat overall gain in the range of 1.9-2.6GHz. In 0.18-μm CMOS technology, the simulation results illustrate that the proposed phase shifter achieves less than 0.635 degree RMS phase error and less than 0.6dB gain variation across 1.9-2.6GHz.
Meeting physical activity guidelines through community-based group exercise: "better bones and balance".

OBJECTIVE Community-based exercise programs are popular for achieving physical activity among older adults, but the amount of physical activity obtained through such programs is unknown. This study quantified the bone-loading forces and levels of cardiovascular activity associated with participation in "Better Bones and Balance" (BBB), a community-based fall- and fracture-prevention program for older adults. METHODS Thirty-six postmenopausal women age 73.2 ± 7.6 yr engages in BBB participated in this study. Ground-reaction forces (GRFs) associated with BBB exercises were evaluated using a force platform. Session and weekly totals of minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and total time spent above 55% maximum heart rate (HR) were measured using accelerometers and HR monitors, respectively. RESULTS BBB exercises produced mean 1-leg GRFs of 1.4-2.2 units body weight. Weekly BBB participation was associated with 126 ± 31 min of MVPA. CONCLUSION Activity obtained by BBB participation meets recommended guidelines for skeletal and cardiovascular health.
The Environmental Kuznets Curve in ASEAN: The Case of Carbon Emissions

Over the past two decades, researchers have sought to establish empirical evidence for an Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) for carbon dioxide (CO2), with varied results. This study builds on that research to re-evaluate whether the EKC exists for CO2 emissions, using an improved dataset and the enhanced econometric technique Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM) estimator. The aims determine how various factors like economic growth, and energy use influence CO2 emissions. The CO2 emission rate is the dependent variable and the independent variables of the model include the lagged dependent variable, GDP per capita (constant 2010 US$), and energy use. We find that EKC is based on economic growth for ASEAN countries, and increased energy use actually increase CO2 emissions
Blood harmane concentrations and dietary protein consumption in essential tremor

Background: β-Carboline alkaloids (e.g., harmane) are highly tremorogenic chemicals. Animal protein (meat) is the major dietary source of these alkaloids. The authors previously demonstrated that blood harmane concentrations were elevated in patients with essential tremor (ET) vs controls. Whether this difference is due to greater animal protein consumption by patients or their failure to metabolize harmane is unknown. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with ET and controls differ with regard to 1) daily animal protein consumption and 2) the correlation between animal protein consumption and blood harmane concentration. Methods: Data on current diet were collected with a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and daily calories and consumption of animal protein and other food types was calculated. Blood harmane concentrations were log-transformed (logHA). Results: The mean logHA was higher in 106 patients than 161 controls (0.61 ± 0.67 vs 0.43 ± 0.72 g−10/mL, p = 0.035). Patients and controls consumed similar amounts of animal protein (50.2 ± 19.6 vs 49.4 ± 19.1 g/day, p = 0.74) and other food types (animal fat, carbohydrates, vegetable fat) and had similar caloric intakes. In controls, logHA was correlated with daily consumption of animal protein (r = 0.24, p = 0.003); in patients, there was no such correlation (r = −0.003, p = 0.98). Conclusions: The similarity between patients and controls in daily animal protein consumption and the absence of the normal correlation between daily animal protein consumption and logHA in patients suggests that another factor (e.g., a metabolic defect) may be increasing blood harmane concentration in patients.
ArchiTech: Tool support for NFR-guided architectural decision-making

Researchers from requirements engineering and software architecture had emphasized the importance of NonFunctional Requirements and their influence in the architectural design process. To improve this process we have designed a tool, ArchiTech, which aims to support architects during the design process by suggesting alternative architectural decisions that can improve some types of non-functional requirements in a particular project, and facilitate the reuse of architectural knowledge shared between projects of the same architectural domain (e.g., web-based applications).