Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Secoiridoid glycosides production in hairy roots of Gentiana pneumonanthe L . : optimization of cytokinin concentration in the culture medium

Gentiana pneumonanthe L. (fam. Gentianaceae) is a herbaceous perennial growing on wet heathlands, grasslands and hay meadows of Europe and Asia. Like other Gentiana species, G. pneumonanthe is characterized by the production of bitter secoiridoid glycosides (SGs) widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. Hairy roots (HRs) of G. pneumonanthe, as an alternative source of these phytochemicals, have been induced by agropine type Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain (A40M70GUS), and were characterized by genetic stability, sizable biomass production, and increased biosynthetic capacity compared to the native plant roots and above ground parts. Although HRs of G. pneumonanthe showed intensive growth without the application of phytohormones, the effect of varying concentrations of cytokinins (BAP – benzylaminopurine; KIN – kinetin) on the morphogenesis and on the content of SGs has been investigated in the present study, with the aim of optimizing in vitro conditions for enhanced production of targeted secondary metabolites. Morphogenetic changes, such as the formation of calli, were induced by both phytohormones. Significant reduction of HR biomass occurred only on treatments with high BAP and KIN concentrations (3 and 4 mg l-1). The content of SGs, especially gentiopicrin and sweroside, was affected by both KIN and BAP. The lowest applied concentration of these phytohormones (0.1 mg l-1) showed a stimulatory effect on the production of gentiopicrin and sweroside. Further increase in both cytokinins concentrations decreased the content of these SGs. Being genetically stable and fast-growing, HR cultures of G. pneumonanthe could provide a constant and highly productive source of valuable secondary metabolites, and could further be implemented in large-scale bioreactors. Although many challenges still exist for the commercial implementation of this alternative production system, the results presented here demonstrate the opportunities for enhanced SGs production by the application of in low concentrations of both cytokinins and thus highlight the benefits of optimizing growth conditions.
Minfer: Inferring Motif Statistics From Sampled Edges

Characterizing motif (i.e., locally connected subgraph patterns) statistics is important for understanding complex networks such as online social networks and communication networks. Previous work made the strong assumption that the graph topology of interest is known, and that the dataset either fits into main memory or stored on disks such that it is not expensive to obtain all neighbors of any given node. In practice, researchers have to deal with the situation where the graph topology is unknown, either because the graph is dynamic, or because it is expensive to collect and store all topological and meta information on disk. Hence, what is available to researchers is only a snapshot of the graph generated by sampling edges from the graph at random, which we called a "RESampled graph". Clearly, a RESampled graph's motif statistics may be quite different from the underlying original graph. To solve this challenge, we propose a framework and implement a system called Minfer, which can take the given RESampled graph and accurately infer the underlying graph's motif statistics. We also use Fisher information to bound the error of our estimates. Experiments using large scale datasets show that our method to be accurate.
Effects of three global change drivers on terrestrial C:N:P stoichiometry: a global synthesis

Over the last few decades, there has been an increasing number of controlled‐manipulative experiments to investigate how plants and soils might respond to global change. These experiments typically examined the effects of each of three global change drivers [i.e., nitrogen (N) deposition, warming, and elevated CO2] on primary productivity and on the biogeochemistry of carbon (C), N, and phosphorus (P) across different terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we capitalize on this large amount of information by performing a comprehensive meta‐analysis (>2000 case studies worldwide) to address how C:N:P stoichiometry of plants, soils, and soil microbial biomass might respond to individual vs. combined effects of the three global change drivers. Our results show that (i) individual effects of N addition and elevated CO2 on C:N:P stoichiometry are stronger than warming, (ii) combined effects of pairs of global change drivers (e.g., N addition + elevated CO2, warming + elevated CO2) on C:N:P stoichiometry were generally weaker than the individual effects of each of these drivers, (iii) additive interactions (i.e., when combined effects are equal to or not significantly different from the sum of individual effects) were more common than synergistic or antagonistic interactions, (iv) C:N:P stoichiometry of soil and soil microbial biomass shows high homeostasis under global change manipulations, and (v) C:N:P responses to global change are strongly affected by ecosystem type, local climate, and experimental conditions. Our study is one of the first to compare individual vs. combined effects of the three global change drivers on terrestrial C:N:P ratios using a large set of data. To further improve our understanding of how ecosystems might respond to future global change, long‐term ecosystem‐scale studies testing multifactor effects on plants and soils are urgently required across different world regions.
Genetic Diversity and Virulence Potential of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O113:H21 Strains Isolated from Clinical, Environmental, and Food Sources

ABSTRACT Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains of serotype O113:H21 have caused severe human diseases, but they are unusual in that they do not produce adherence factors coded by the locus of enterocyte effacement. Here, a PCR microarray was used to characterize 65 O113:H21 strains isolated from the environment, food, and clinical infections from various countries. In comparison to the pathogenic strains that were implicated in hemolytic-uremic syndrome in Australia, there were no clear differences between the pathogens and the environmental strains with respect to the 41 genetic markers tested. Furthermore, all of the strains carried only Shiga toxin subtypes associated with human infections, suggesting that the environmental strains have the potential to cause disease. Most of the O113:H21 strains were closely related and belonged in the same clonal group (ST-223), but CRISPR analysis showed a great degree of genetic diversity among the O113:H21 strains.
The robotic bar - an integrated demonstration of man-robot interaction in a service scenario

The first robots are currently appearing on the consumer market. Initially they are targeted at rather simple applications such as entertainment and home convenience. For more complex areas, these robots will need to collaborate and interactively communicate with their human users, which requires appropriate man-machine interaction technologies and considerable cognitive abilities on the robot's side. Consumer acceptance will strongly depend on the integrated system. Thus, system integration and evaluation of the integrated system is becoming increasingly important. This paper describes our approach to construct a robotic assistance system. We present experience with an integrated technology demonstration and exposure of the integrated system to the public.
The cost effective and secure service platform to enable smart grid service with mobile backhaul network

The service charge and security on network are obstacles to widely enable a smart grid. To overcome those obstacles, we propose the cost effective and secure service platform with mobile backhaul network. Our proposal applies the RoF based CBS (cloud base station) for cost effective mobile network. The RoF based CBS reduces a CAPEX and OPEX for optical link to build up a next mobile network since it can reuse a present optical link or minimize the number of new optical link. We propose the TPHE (Two Phase Hybrid Equalizer) to overcome the technical issue which is distorted the analog signal on optical link. The TPHE has improved 3.0% of measured EVM. Our paper proposes the WSTA (Wi-Fi based Security Tunnel based on Application) for the BGW (Backhaul Gateway) which connect to mobile backhaul network and Wi-Fi. The WSTA manages security tunnels and pipe to overcome the security vulnerability point on Wi-Fi. The WSTA can protect the other security pipe or tunnel except the hacked pipe or tunnel from hacker even though a specific security tunnel or pipe has hacked, since a security tunnel or pipe is independently managed with the other security tunnel or pipe. A security tunnel is managed by application and a security tunnel is tied to the security tunnel.
A New Design Procedure for DBR Lasers Exploiting the Photon–Photon Resonance to Achieve Extended Modulation Bandwidth

This paper presents a systematic investigation on the exploitation of the modulation bandwidth enhancement that can be obtained using the photon-photon resonance (PPR) effects in distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers with antireflection coating at the grating end facet. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a complete design procedure has been found that allows a precise positioning of the PPR frequency; such a procedure has been successfully validated both in small and large signal modulation regimes. Conditions for maximum bit rate transmission are also discussed and verified analyzing the eye diagrams obtained by numerical simulations.
A novel kinase regulates dietary restriction-mediated longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Although dietary restriction (DR) is known to extend lifespan across species, from yeast to mammals, the signalling events downstream of food/nutrient perception are not well understood. In Caenorhabditis elegans, DR is typically attained either by using the eat‐2 mutants that have reduced pharyngeal pumping leading to lower food intake or by feeding diluted bacterial food to the worms. In this study, we show that knocking down a mammalian MEKK3‐like kinase gene, mekk‐3 in C. elegans, initiates a process similar to DR without compromising food intake. This DR‐like state results in upregulation of beta‐oxidation genes through the nuclear hormone receptor NHR‐49, a HNF‐4 homolog, resulting in depletion of stored fat. This metabolic shift leads to low levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), potent oxidizing agents that damage macromolecules. Increased beta‐oxidation, in turn, induces the phase I and II xenobiotic detoxification genes, through PHA‐4/FOXA, NHR‐8 and aryl hydrocarbon receptor AHR‐1, possibly to purge lipophilic endotoxins generated during fatty acid catabolism. The coupling of a metabolic shift with endotoxin detoxification results in extreme longevity following mekk‐3 knock‐down. Thus, MEKK‐3 may function as an important nutrient sensor and signalling component within the organism that controls metabolism. Knocking down mekk‐3 may signal an imminent nutrient crisis that results in initiation of a DR‐like state, even when food is plentiful.
Effect of HIV-1 Subtypes on Disease Progression in Rural Uganda: A Prospective Clinical Cohort Study

Objective We examined the association of HIV-1 subtypes with disease progression based on three viral gene regions. Design A prospective HIV-1 clinical cohort study in rural Uganda. Methods Partial gag, env and pol genes were sequenced. Cox proportional hazard regression modelling was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of progression to: CD4≤250, AIDS onset and death, adjusted for sex, age and CD4 count at enrolment. Results Between 1990 and 2010, 292 incident cases were subtyped: 25% had subtype A, 45% had D, 26% had A/D recombinants, 1% had C and 4% were other recombinant forms. Of the 278 incident cases included in the disease progression analysis, 62% progressed to CD4≤250, 32% to AIDS, and 34% died with a higher proportion being among subtype D cases. The proportions of individuals progressing to the three endpoints were significantly higher among individuals infected with subtype D. Throughout the study period, individuals infected with subtype D progressed faster to CD4≤250, adjusted HR (aHR), (95% CI) = 1.72 (1.16–2.54), but this was mainly due to events in the period before antiretroviral therapy (ART) introduction, when individuals infected with subtype D significantly progressed faster to CD4≤250 than subtype A cases; aHR (95% CI) = 1.78 (1.01–3.14). Conclusions In this population, HIV-1 subtype D was the most prevalent and was associated with faster HIV-1 disease progression than subtype A. Further studies are needed to examine the effect of HIV-1 subtypes on disease progression in the ART period and their effect on the virological and immunological ART outcomes.
Building a Program of Research Based on the Transtheoretical Model

&NA; The purpose of this article is to describe the author's program of research based on the transtheoretical model (TTM) by Prochaska and DiClemente, applied to individuals with addictions and comorbid psychiatric disorders. A brief overview of the TTM is provided. The purpose, findings, and implications for five non‐experimental studies are presented. The concept of patient choice emerges from this program of research. Well‐designed randomized control trials need to be conducted to establish the efficacy of stage‐based treatment for the target population and to examine the role of choice on treatment outcomes. The article addresses the value of being mentored by experts and mentoring others to address the shortage of addictions nurse researchers.
Distribution and characterization of functional amiloride-sensitive sodium channels in rat tongue

The role of amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels (ASSCs) in the transduction of salty taste stimuli in rat fungiform taste buds has been well established. Evidence for the involvement of ASSCs in salt transduction in circumvallate and foliate taste buds is, at best, contradictory. In an attempt to resolve this apparent controversy, we have begun to look for functional ASSCs in taste buds isolated from fungiform, foliate, and circumvallate papillae of male Sprague-Dawley rats. By use of a combination of whole-cell and nystatin-perforated patch-clamp recording, cells within the taste bud that exhibited voltage-dependent currents, reflective of taste receptor cells (TRCs), were subsequently tested for amiloride sensitivity. TRCs were held at - 70 mV, and steady-state current and input resistance were monitored during superfusion of Na(+)-free saline and salines containing amiloride (0.1 microM to 1 mM). Greater than 90% of all TRCs from each of the papillae responded to Na+ replacement with a decrease in current and an increase in input resistance, reflective of a reduction in electrogenic Na+ movement into the cell. ASSCs were found in two thirds of fungiform and in one third of foliate TRCs, whereas none of the circumvallate TRCs was amiloride sensitive. These findings indicate that the mechanism for Na+ influx differs among taste bud types. All amiloride-sensitive currents had apparent inhibition constants in the submicromolar range. These results agree with afferent nerve recordings and raise the possibility that the extensive labeling of the ASSC protein and mRNA in the circumvallate papillae may reflect a pool of nonfunctional channels or a pool of channels that lacks sensitivity to amiloride.
The Football Ground and Visual Culture: Recapturing Place, Memory and Meaning at Ayresome Park

2010 marked the 15th anniversary of Middlesbrough Football Club leaving its historic home at Ayresome Park, and the tenth anniversary of the completion of the housing estate that now occupies the site. It was also the tenth anniversary of the start of Neville Gabie's ‘The Trophy Room’ commemorative art project. This involved the incorporation of artworks in and around the new houses as symbolic allusions to the former ground. This article re-examines the motives, concept, challenges and methodology behind the project; explores the original relationships between the artist, developers, residents, fans and club; investigates current views and attitudes towards the artworks; and opens out debate on visual culture in this context, focusing on such questions as place attachment, public memory, history and heritage, civic pride and identity and nostalgia sport tourism.
A Comparative Analysis of Automated Web Site Evaluation Tools

Web sites have become a primary means of commerce and information exchange. Majority of web sites are designed by non-experts. Although there are guidelines and tips for designing a good web site, usability and accessability remain critical issues to be addressed by non-experts. Automated tools have emerged to help solve the problem. This paper reviews web site evaluation researches and performs a comparative analysis on major web site evaluation tools for the research and commercial use.
Distribution of Cancer Among Former and Current Brookhaven National Laboratory Workers

Executive Summary The New York State Cancer Registry identified 804 cancers diagnosed among former and current Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) workers between 1979 and 1996. Only cancers occurring through 1996 among New York residents were considered, since at the time of the linkage, 1996 was the most recent year for which Registry coverage was considered complete. Due to the unavailability of complete information on employment and residential history, it was not possible to estimate the actual risk of specific cancers among BNL employees. However, it was possible to compare the pattern of cancer types among BNL employees with those among residents of New York State exclusive of New York City and Nassau and Suffolk counties. This type of comparison was used to indicate cancer types that may be more common among the workers at Brookhaven. The most striking result of this study, and one that impacts all other results, is the proportionate deficit of respiratory cancers among BNL employees. Malignant melanomas of the skin were proportionately elevated among males. This finding is difficult to interpret since melanomas are not well reported to the Registry. This would result in an underestimate of expected cases. Among females, a proportionate excess of leukemia cases was observed. The excess was restricted almost entirely to lymphocytic leukemias. This finding may merit further investigation including: a review of the medical records to determine the accuracy of the diagnosis; an assessment of whether the excess is due to acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (the latter not being associated with radiation exposure); and a review of the medical, work, and exposure histories of women with leukemia. Except as noted above, the overall distribution of cancers in this cohort did not deviate significantly from expected. Of particular note, radiosensitive solid cancers were not proportionately elevated.
Positive Span of Force and Torque Components in Three-Dimensional Four-Finger Force-Closure Grasps

Testing whether a given grasp achieves force closure is a fundamental problem in grasping. Unfortunately, most of the force-closure testing methods avoid dealing with the true quadratic friction cones by resorting to some linear approximation which unavoidably sacrifices completeness and accuracy. This paper presents a method, considering the true nonlinear friction cone, that can be used as a filter that quickly rejects non-force-closure grasps. The method is based on a necessary condition stating that a force-closure grasp must be able to generate wrenches that positively span the force space and the torque space separately. The geometric relationship between the friction cones and the corresponding force space and torque space is analyzed to help construct an efficient test of the condition. Due to the superior speed of the test over a complete method, the overall performance improvement is paramount. In our experiment, a speed-up factor of 20 or greater can be achieved when testing a large number of grasps on various test objects.
Hybridization in Large-Bodied New World Primates

Well-documented cases of natural hybridization among primates are not common. In New World primates, natural hybridization has been reported only for small-bodied species, but no genotypic data have ever been gathered that confirm these reports. Here we present genetic evidence of hybridization of two large-bodied species of neotropical primates that diverged ∼3 MYA. We used species-diagnostic mitochondrial and microsatellite loci and the Y chromosome Sry gene to determine the hybrid status of 36 individuals collected from an area of sympatry in Tabasco, Mexico. Thirteen individuals were hybrids. We show that hybridization and subsequent backcrosses are directionally biased and that the only likely cross between parental species produces fertile hybrid females, but fails to produce viable or fertile males. This system can be used as a model to study gene interchange between primate species that have not achieved complete reproductive isolation.
On Justification Work: How Compromising Enables Public Managers to Deal with Conflicting Values

__Abstract__ In the public administration literature, a variety of responses to value confl icts have been described, such as trade-off s, decoupling values, and incrementalism. Yet little attention has been paid to the possibility of constructive compromises that enable public managers to deal with confl icting values simultaneously rather than separately. Th e authors use Luc Boltanski and Laurent Th evenot’s theory of justifi cation to extend current conceptualizations of management of confl icting values. On the basis of a qualitative study of daily practices of Dutch health care managers (executives and middle managers), they show how compromises are constructed and justifi ed to signifi cant others. Because compromises are fragile and open to criticism, managers have to perform continuous “justifi cation work” that entails not only the use of rhetoric but also the adaption of behavior and material objects. By inscribing compromises into objects and behavior, managers are able to solidify compromises, thereby creating temporary stability in times of public sector change.
The Contribution of Emotional Partners to Sexual Risk Taking and Violence among Female Sex Workers in Mombasa, Kenya: A Cohort Study

Objectives To assess sexual risk-taking of female sex workers (FSWs) with emotional partners (boyfriends and husbands), compared to regular and casual clients. Experiences of violence and the degree of relationship control that FSWs have with emotional partners are also described. Design Cohort study with quarterly follow-up visit over 12-months. Methods Four hundred HIV-uninfected FSWs older than 16 years were recruited from their homes and guesthouses in Mombasa, Kenya. A structured questionnaire assessed participant characteristics and study outcomes at each visit, and women received risk-reduction counselling, male and female condoms, and HIV testing. Results Four or more unprotected sex acts in the past week were reported by 21.3% of women during sex with emotional partners, compared to 5.8% with regular and 4.8% with casual clients (P<0.001). Total number of unprotected sex acts per week was 5–6-fold higher with emotional partners (603 acts with 259 partners) than with regular or casual clients (125 acts with 456, and 98 acts with 632 clients, respectively; P<0.001). Mostly, perceptions of “trust” underscored unprotected sex with emotional partners. Low control over these relationships, common to many women (36.9%), was linked with higher partner numbers, inconsistent condom use, and being physically forced to have sex by their emotional partners. Half experienced sexual or physical violence in the past year, similarly associated with partner numbers and inconsistent condom use. Conclusions High-risk sexual behaviour, low control and frequent violence in relationships with emotional partners heighten FSWs' vulnerability and high HIV risk, requiring targeted interventions that also encompass emotional partners.