Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Circadian Gene Variations Are Associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors in a Young Healthy Korean Population

Recently, growing evidence implies that circadian rhythm may influence and/or play a central role in psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder [1,2], schizophrenia [3], and autism [4]. However, there is limited knowledge on the role of circadian rhythms in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Disruption of circadian regulation of body temperature and hormonal levels has been observed in those with OCD [5-7]. Difference in sleep behavior (i.e., reduced total sleep time, increased awakening after sleep onset, extended sleep onset latency) and in sleep architecture [i.e., decreased latency to the onset of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and increased density of REM sleep] have been reported in OCD patients compared to healthy individuals [8-12]. Delayed bedtimes are also associated with increased OC symptoms [13]. Delayed sleep phase disorder is known to be more prevalent in severe OCD patients [14,15]. Seasonal affective Circadian Gene Variations Are Associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors in a Young Healthy Korean Population
Exploring the effect of Relative Language Distance on Bilingual Brain Structure – a cross-sectional VBM study

It is known that bilinguals’ perpetual need for language control influences their brain structure in significant ways. But bilinguals’ language control needs are themselves influenced by key dimensions of the bilingual experience – variation in the age of bilingualism-onset, relative language proficiency, exposure and immersion has indeed been shown to have differential effects on bilingual neurostructural profiles. An under-studied dimension of bilingualism that could also generate differing bilingual language control needs is the extent of similarity between bilinguals’ language pairs, referred to in the present study as Relative Language Distance (RLD). The goal of the present study was to explore whether the experience of managing “close” and “distant” languages has any impact at all on bilingual brain structure. To this end, exploratory morphometric analysis of grey matter volumes was carried out on three groups, all very similar in their bilingual profiles except for the factor of RLD – high-distance Cantonese-English (hd-CE), intermediate distance Hindi-English (id-HE) and low-distance Dutch-English (ld-DE) speakers. The results after controlling for contribution of other bilingual dimensions revealed significant bilateral putaminal volume differences between the groups that varied along the relative language distance gradient in the pattern of CE>HE>DE. This might be attributable to the differing articulatory control needs that variation in L1-L2 RLD generates. The present study reveals how the dimension of Relative Language Distance could impact bilingual brain structure.
Wpływ opadu atmosferycznego na stan jakościowy rzeki miejskiej na przykładzie Potoku Oruńskiego

One of the objectives of this work was to study the catchment and watercourse response to precipitation. The study area covered the Potok Oruński, located in northern Poland, in the city of Gdansk. The study period using cartographic materials took years 1908–2000, and field research covered the period from May 2009 to April 2010. Additionally, experimental measurements were conducted to observe the dynamics of changes occurring in the brook during rainfall. The rainfall of 1.3 mm caused an eleven fold increase of the flow, a twofold increase of the water level and a fourfold increase in the velocity of the water molecules. It turns out, that the maximum flow rates is an important variable when assessing the potential risks.
Electrical Impedance Analysis in Plant Tissues: A Double Shell Model

Electrical impedance was measured at a range of AC frequencies of 100 Hz to 1 MHz in potato tubers and carrot roots. Details of a method for analysing the data in relation to electrical models, using complex non-linear least squares (CNLS), are described. The measured data were analysed in relation to four previously-described electrical models for plant tissues. The results showed that plant tissue conforms well to a double-shell model which includes components (resistors and capacitors) representing the vacuole, as well as cytoplasm, plasma membrane, and extracellular space. The method permitted the calculation of specific membrane capacitance, which was found to approximate 1-0 ? iF cm"2.
The distribution of serotonergic nerve on the hippocampus of the fruit bats (Rousettus amplexicaudatus)

Background: Rousettus amplexicaudatus is one of the old world fruit bats, commonly known in Javanese word as codot belongs to Order Chiroptera and suborder Megachiroptera. R. amplexicaudatus possessed an outstanding visual ability, which helps in the process of searching for food. Those activities process and save within the brain involving the learning and memory activities. Learning and memory activities are centered around the hippocampus with the help of serotonergic nerve. Aim: This study conducted to identify the morphology and distribution of serotonergic nerve (5-hydroxytryptamine) in the hippocampus of R. amplexicaudatus, which related to the function of serotonin within the learning and memory process. Materials and Methods: Five R. amplexicaudatus bats were brought from Gunung Kidul cave, Yogyakarta, Java Island, Indonesia. The bats were anesthetized using ketamine and xylazine. R. amplexicaudatus then perfused intracardially. The brain samples were collected processed into paraffin block, and a further cut in 8 µm thickness serially. The tissue slides were stained using hematoxylin-eosin, cresyl echt violet, and immunohistochemistry with rabbit’s anti-serotonin (1:200). The results observed and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using image J (https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/) (Bethesda, Maryland, USA) and GraphPad Prism 7 (La Jolla, CA, USA). Results: The hippocampus of R. amplexicaudatus composed of the dentate gyrus (DG), hippocampus proper (cornu ammonis 3 [CA3], and CA1 as the main area for learning memory), and subiculum. On the DG serotonin immunoreactive cells found within the granular layer (132±35.03 cells/mm2), polymorphic stratum (86.33±11.23 cells/mm2), and molecular layer (93±1 cells/mm2). Meanwhile, on CA3 area, the immunoreactive cells for serotonin found in each stratum. The number of immunoreactive cells on each stratum from highest to the lowest are stratum pyramidal 123.33±15.88 cell/mm2, stratum molecular 63±13.11 cell/mm2, stratum lucidum 62.67±8.08 cell/mm2, stratum radiatum 55.33±510.21 cell/mm2, stratum oriens 48±3.46 cell/mm2, and stratum alveus 28.67±2,52 cell/mm2. In addition, in CA1 also hampers the immunoreactive cells in the pyramidal stratum, molecular, lucidum, oriens, radiatum, and alveus layer, respectively, of each 91±27.40 cell/mm2, 60.33±20.65 cell/mm2, 53.67±4.51 cell/mm244.33±10.40 cell/mm2, 41.33±5.51 cell/mm2, and 27±4 cell/mm2. Conclusion: Taking together the distribution of serotonin-immunoreactive cells in the hippocampus of R. amplexicaudatus mostly found on CA3 followed by CA 1 and DG.
Identification of novel regulators of the Nuclear Factor Kappa B pathway in human macrophages

Author(s): Verma, Suneer | Advisor(s): Verma, Inder M | Abstract: The nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) family of transcription factors has a central role in coordinating the expression of genes that control inflammation, immune responses, cell-proliferation, and a variety of other processes. Ever since its discovery in 1986 in David Baltimore’s lab, the NF-κB pathway has been the prime model of inducible transcription in various cell types, and in response to multiple stimuli. Despite being one of the most well-studied pathway in biology, it still has a lot of unanswered questions associated with it including the events that lead up to its activation in the cytoplasm as well as the sequence of events that lead to the transcription of hundreds of its target genes in the nucleus. Given the pathway’s implication in development and diseases, it has become increasingly important to answer these questions. Here, we present two whole-genome RNAi screens conducted to find novel regulators of this pathway in the physiologically relevant human macrophages in response to Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF). After three levels of screening we have found over 25 potential novel regulators of this pathway, summarized in Chapters 2 and 4. The top hit is the splicing factor and transcriptional co-activator SNW1. We have further validated it as a regulator of the NF-κB pathway in response to multiple stimuli and in five different cell lines (THP-1, U87, 293T, A549, and U2-OS). SNW1 does not seem to affect general constitutive transcription in THP-1 cells but does seem to repress some transcription programs e.g. CREB and NFE2. SNW1 does not regulate the cytoplasmic part of the NF-κB pathway but does complex with the NF-κB hetero dimer in the nucleus on pathway activation. We have shown that it binds to NF-κB’s transcriptional elongation partner p-TEFb and helps recruit it to the NF-κB nuclear complex that contains RNA Polymerase II. We have also shown that SNW1 loses binding from its splicing complex (SNRNP200, SNRNP220) on NF-κB activation. SNW1 is a unique protein shown to be involved in both splicing and transcription and in the case of NF-κB, its role seems to involve recruitment of p-TEFb for effective transcriptional elongation of NF-κB target genes.
Towards a Postphenomenological Approach to Wearable Technology through Design Journeys

The field of wearable technology has extensively described the opportunities, challenges as well as the concerns around integrating digital technologies into fashion. However, it has so far not provided a sufficiently clear and embodied understanding of technology. Technology therefore is often still limited to something that adds functionality to textiles or clothing. Additionally, technology is seen as a way to enhance the visual expression and thereby the representational character of clothing. Both approaches seem to hinder the intersection of digital technologies and textiles on a material and embodied level. While the role of wearable technologies in the everyday could benefit from it. In this paper, we therefore argue for reframing the understanding of technology to better facilitate the integration of digital technologies (i.e. electronics and software) into everyday fashion. A reflective analysis of the process of designing wearable technologies, based on the design practice of the first author, reveals that technology is considered a material and that its material qualities are not thought of as either functional or aesthetic. These insights, arising from practice, have led us to turn to postphenomenology (a strand of philosophy of technology) to come to further conceptualization. Postphenomenology looks at the ways in which technologies mediate or “coshape” the relationship between human beings and the world. By seeing technologies as the media that connect humans to the world, they acquire a material and contextual dimension. The idea that artifacts mediate materially thus offers a very useful starting point for understanding and designing wearable technologies. The contribution of this article is twofold, namely, first, to provide a material understanding of the technology on the basis of design practice. And secondly, to bridge design practice with theory by suggesting to bring postphenomenology into fashion to better facilitate the design of wearable technologies for the everyday.
Microscopy Underestimates the Prevalence of Trypanosomes’ Infection in Asymptomatic Cattle and Sheep in a Lowland Area within the Kenyan Rift Valley

Animal trypanosomosis continues to impede animal production in sub-Saharan Africa mostly in locations where tsetse flies are endemic. This has ended up devastating many livelihoods where majority of the people depend on livestock farming as source of food and income generation. The true picture on prevalence and identity of trypanosome species is scanty or unknown in most areas where tsetse flies are present. This study sought to investigate the prevalence of trypanosomes’ infection in cattle and sheep using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. The use of PCR for detection and identification of trypanosomes has increased sensitivity of diagnostic method compared to conventional microscopy. Ninety asymptomatic free range grazed animals including 72 cattle and 18 sheep randomly sampled from farmers in Kerio Valley of Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya were used in the present study. Blood samples (5 ml) obtained from each of the animals were used for trypanosomes’ detection by microscopy and PCR assay methods. Microscopy results showed that only 2 cattle (2.8%) were positive for trypanosomosis infection. The microscopy results for the sheep showed zero prevalence. On the other hand, PCR results reported 26 trypanosomosis positive cattle (36.1%) and 3 (16.7%) trypanosomosis positive sheep. The PCR method was further used for trypanosomes’ species identification and the results showed that the 26 infected cattle were positive for T. congolense (12) and T. brucei (14) while the three sheep were all positive for T. brucei. The findings of the present study show that microscopy underestimates trypanosomosis detection and therefore cannot be relied upon as a tool for diagnosis. Besides, the method is weak in reporting species differentiation in a case where the morphological differences have only minor details or where the species are very close morphologically. This study recommends routine use of molecular biology-based technique for trypanosomosis detection in the Kenyan Rift Valley lowland areas.
An Alternative Approach For Teaching The Basic Dc-dc Converters By A Generalization Of The Basic Pwm Commutation Cell

– This paper proposes a new approach for teaching the basic DC-DC converters, aiming a better understanding of these converters by the student uninitiated in the subject. The proposed strategy is to begin by presenting the basic PWM commutation cell and make a generalization of its characteristics, showing that the buck, boost and buck-boost converters have many similarities. This procedure reduces the number of equations and waveforms to be studied. An interesting effect, only present in the boost converter, is the double region of continuous conduction mode (DRCCM). Simulation results show that the mathematical procedure is consistent and easy for designs.
Building information system based online quiz on messenger and website as backend

This study aims to design an online quiz information system that can facilitate teachers and learners. The type of research conducted by the author is descriptive research. In data collection method, writer use primary data source (interview, observation) and secondary data source (books, journal, tutorial, internet and others) as reference in research conducted. This research indicates that this system will certainly be very helpful for the process of online quiz implementation can run more safely, orderly, effective efficient funds.
PRIMEIRO RELATO DE Meloidogyne izalcoensis EM CAFEZAL NO ESTADO DE MINAS GERAIS E LEVANTAMENTO DE Meloidogyne spp. EM CAFEEIROS NO TRIÂNGULO MINEIRO

Neste estudo foi realizada a identificacao de uma nova especie de Meloidogyne no Triângulo Mineiro, em plantas de cafeeiro, e tambem a deteccao de outras especies de nematoides de galhas ocorrentes nessa regiao. Para tanto, foram empregadas tecnicas bioquimicas a apartir dos fenotipos da enzima esterase (Est) e tecnicas moleculares, a partir dos marcadores moleculares especie-especifico do tipo SCAR (Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions). A utilizacao dessas tecnicas permitiu a identificacao de M. izalcoensis em Indianopolis, MG, que havia sido descrita pela primeira vez em El Salvador por Carneiro et al. (2005), parasitando plantas de cafeeiro. Em uma prospeccao posterior em locais proximos a deteccao dessa especie nova, foram encontradas outras tres especies de Meloidogyne parasitando cafeeiros no Triângulo Mineiro: M. exigua, M. paranaensis e M. incognita. Em amostras de dois locais, misturas de M. exigua e M. paranaensis foram detectadas; em outra amostra ocorrerreram populacoes mistas de M. exigua e M. incognita . Os fenotipos de esterase e os marcadores moleculares SCAR foram eficientes na identificacao de especies de Meloidogyne spp. , que parasitam o cafeeiro. Esse foi o primeiro relato de M. izalcoensis ocorrendo em cafeeiros no Brasil, e a sua distribuicao parece restrita. Entretanto, mais estudos sao necessarios para precisar a distribuicao de M. izalcoensis no Triângulo Mineiro.
Transcriptomic changes due to early, chronic ethanol exposure during cortical development implicate arealization, cell-type specification, axon guidance and synaptogenesis as primary determinants of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Ethanol (EtOH) exposure in early development can lead to profound consequences on neural progenitor cells (NPC) and the neurons that they generate. The clusters of neurological and anatomical hallmarks associated with prenatal EtOH exposure are collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum (FAS). Because EtOH affects multiple developmental processes depending on dosage, frequency and timing of exposure, FAS symptoms exists on a spectrum from relatively benign to severely debilitating intellectual disability, including difficulties with learning, memory and executive function. While animal models successfully recapitulate multiple aspects of FAS including characteristically altered craniofacial morphogenesis and behavioral deficits, much less is understood regarding how EtOH exposure affects human NPCs and neuronal development. In this study, we utilize an in vitro human pluripotent stem cell-based (hPSC) model of early neurogenesis to probe the differences in the development of NPCs and post-mitotic neurons using bulk RNA sequencing. Our findings include specific alterations in the areas of WNT signaling, cortical regionalization and synapse formation.
Studies of Nε-Lysine Acetylation Modification on Escherichia coli Topoisomerase I

Escherichia coli topoisomerase I (TopA), a regulator of global and local DNA supercoiling, is modified by Nε-Lysine acetylation. The NAD+-dependent sirtuindeacetylase CobB can reverse both enzymatic and non-enzymatic lysine acetylation modification in E. coli. Previous studies revealed the accumulated acetylation in ΔcobB mutant. Here, we show that the absence of deacetylase CobB in a ΔcobB mutant reduces intracellular TopA catalytic activity while elevating TopA expression and topA gene transcripts levels. The relaxation activity of purified TopA is decreased by in vitro non enzymatic acetyl phosphate mediated lysine acetylation. The interaction with purified CobB protects TopA from inactivation by such non-enzymatic acetylation. These findings demonstrate that E. coli TopA catalytic activity can be modulated by lysine acetylationdeacetylation, and the deacetylase CobB is important in the prevention of TopA inactivation from excess lysine acetylation.
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS FROM Commiphora leptophloeos (MART.) J. B. GILLETT AGAINST Staphylococcus SPP. ISOLATED FROM CASES OF MASTITIS IN RUMINANTS

Abstract Considering the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants as alternatives to antibiotic therapy, the research aims to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Commiphora leptophloeos against isolates of Staphylococcus spp. from the milk of ruminants with subclinical mastitis. For this, the crude ethanolic extract from the bark and leaves of Commiphora leptophloeos was prepared, with these being chemically characterized by HPLC-DAD-MS and by MALDI-TOF. The extracts were then evaluated as to their antimicrobial effects against 60 isolates of Staphylococcus spp. through the broth microdilution technique to determine the minimum bactericidal concentration. In addition, the extracts were evaluated as to their ability to interfere with biofilm formation and with the already established biofilm. Although all tested extracts showed antimicrobial action, lower MBC values were recorded for the bark extract in the concentration 781.2 µg/mL (25/60). The extracts of the bark and leaves were able to interfere with the initial stages of biofilm formation, but there was no interference of the extract on the established biofilm. There was a high sensitivity of Staphylococcus spp. isolates from subclinical mastitis cases in ruminants when subjected to the extracts from bark and leaves of Commiphora leptophloeos, as well as regarding the ability of extracts to interfere in biofilm formation, indicating their potential in the use for ruminant mastitis therapy.
On-Load Field Prediction in SPM Machines by a Subdomain and Magnetic Circuit Hybrid Model

In this article, a new subdomain and magnetic circuit hybrid model (SMCHM) is proposed for on-load field prediction in the surface-mounted permanent-magnet machines. Equivalent current sheets are introduced to represent the nonlinearity effect, whose values are obtained by a magnetic circuit (MC) and correlated with boundary conditions in a subdomain model. The number of reluctances in the MC of the proposed model can be selected flexibly according to the nonlinearity effect. Instead of sectorial tooth in the conventional subdomain model, parallel tooth is considered in the proposed model to improve the accuracy. The SMCHM can accurately calculate the flux density distributions and electromagnetic performance considering the heavy nonlinearity effect under the load conditions with fast computation speed. The finite-element analysis is performed to validate the proposed model, which shows an excellent agreement between them. A prototype machine is manufactured to further prove these predictions.
Spatial autocorrelation and data uncertainty in the American Community Survey: a critique

ABSTRACT We argue that the use of American Community Survey (ACS) data in spatial autocorrelation statistics without considering error margins is critically problematic. Public health and geographical research has been slow to recognize high data uncertainty of ACS estimates, even though ACS data are widely accepted data sources in neighborhood health studies and health policies. Detecting spatial autocorrelation patterns of health indicators on ACS data can be distorted to the point that scholars may have difficulty in perceiving the true pattern. We examine the statistical properties of spatial autocorrelation statistics of areal incidence rates based on ACS data. In a case study of teen birth rates in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 2010, Global and Local Moran’s I statistics estimated on 5-year ACS estimates (2006–2010) are compared to ground truth rate estimates on actual counts of births certificate records and decennial-census data (2010). Detected spatial autocorrelation patterns are found to be significantly different between the two data sources so that actual spatial structures are misrepresented. We warn of the possibility of misjudgment of the reality and of policy failure and argue for new spatially explicit methods that mitigate the biasedness of statistical estimations imposed by the uncertainty of ACS data.