Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Direct repair of 3,N[superscript 4]-ethenocytosine by the human ALKBH2 dioxygenase is blocked by the AAG/MPG glycosylase

Exocyclic ethenobases are highly mutagenic DNA lesions strongly implicated in inflammation and vinyl chloride-induced carcinogenesis. While the alkyladenine DNA glycosylase, AAG (or MPG), binds the etheno lesions 1,N6-ethenoadenine (eA) and 3,N4-ethenocytosine (eC) with high affinity, only eA can be excised to initiate base excision repair. Here, we discover that the human AlkB homolog 2 (ALKBH2) dioxygenase enzyme catalyzes direct reversal of eC lesions in both doubleand single-stranded DNA with comparable efficiency to canonical ALKBH2 substrates. Notably, we find that in vitro, the non-enzymatic binding of AAG to eC specifically blocks ALKBH2catalyzed repair of eC but not that of methylated ALKBH2 substrates. These results identify human ALKBH2 as a repair enzyme for mutagenic eC lesions and highlight potential consequences for substrate-binding overlap between the base excision and direct reversal DNA repair pathways.
To Cue or Not to Cue: Beacons and Landmarks in Object-displacement Tasks

Two experiments examined the role of various cues on children’s performance in a well-known object-displacement task. In this task, children observed a toy rolling down a ramp whose trajectory was occluded by an opaque screen with doors. A barrier was placed along the ramp, behind one of the doors, to stop the toy. The top portion of the barrier was visible above the screen. To search successfully, children had to retrieve the hidden toy by opening the correct door. Previous work had found that the barrier was an ineffective cue among children less than three years of age. According to a landmark-based account, this was because the barrier was only an indirect cue to object location. If a cue directly marked the location, then it would be more likely attended and utilized. This model underscores the spatial relation between cue and the target. Other cue properties are important in so far that they modify this spatial relation. In Experiment 1, a cue’s distance from the target object was manipulated (i.e., short vs. long), but the location marked by the cue was kept constant (i.e., correct door was directly below). The search performances of 24and 30-month old children were compared under no cue, shortcue/short-door, and long-cue/long-door conditions. Both age groups performed equally well under both cued conditions.
The Efficiency of Kisspeptin and GnRH as Stimulators of Gonadotrophins and Testosterone in Prepubertal Male Cattle

Our study aimed to compare between the efficiency of kisspeptin-10 (Kp10) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) as a trigger stimulator for gonadotropins; luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T) in male calves. Four prepubertal male Japanese Black calves were used. The animals were given GnRH or Kp10 separately. Plasma LH and FSH concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and T concentrations were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Gonadotropins were significantly increased in response to injections of GnRH and Kp10. However, the response of gonadotropins-release was significantly greater to GnRH than to Kp10 (P<0.05) throughout the 180-min period. Plasma T concentrations increased significantly following injection of Kp10 or GnRH (P<0.05) in comparison with the pre-injection levels (0.75 - 0.47 ng/ml) but no significant difference was observed in T-releasing in response to GnRH and Kp10 throughout the 180-min period. Histopathologically, the testicular tissue had seminiferous cords, essentially without lumina, rather than seminiferous tubules. The basal lamina was very thick and surrounded the immature ill-developed Sertoli as well as spermatogonia cells. Neither spermatid cells nor sperms were seen (no spermatogenesis) with abundant interstitial tissue. No differences in structure of testes in Kp10 or GnRH-injected claves and those of control. Conclusively, GnRH and kisspeptin stimulated equally the secretion of T in prepubertal bulls but did not affect process of spermatogenesis.
On homological properties of singular braids

Homology of objects which can be considered as singular braids, or braids with crossings, is studied. Such braids were introduced in connection with Vassiliev’s theory of invariants of knots and links. The corresponding algebraic objects are the braid-permutation group BPn of R. Fenn, R. Rimányi and C. Rourke and the Baez-Birman monoid SBn which embeds into the singular braid group SGn. The following splittings are proved for the plusconstructions of the classifying spaces of the infinite braid-permutation group and the singular braid group Z× BBP ∞ ' Ω∞S∞ × S × Y, Z×BSG∞ ' S ×Ω2S2 ×W, where Y is an infinite loop space and W is a double loop space.
Temporal Statistical Analysis of Degree Distributions in an Undirected Landline Phone Call Network Graph Series

This article aims to provide new results about the intraday degree sequence distribution considering phone call network graph evolution in time. More specifically, it tackles the following problem. Given a large amount of landline phone call data records, what is the best way to summarize the distinct number of calling partners per client per day? In order to answer this question, a series of undirected phone call network graphs is constructed based on data from a local telecommunication source in Albania. All network graphs of the series are simplified. Further, a longitudinal temporal study is made on this network graphs series related to the degree distributions. Power law and log-normal distribution fittings on the degree sequence are compared on each of the network graphs of the series. The maximum likelihood method is used to estimate the parameters of the distributions, and a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test associated with a p-value is used to define the plausible models. A direct distribution comparison is made through a Vuong test in the case that both distributions are plausible. Another goal was to describe the parameters’ distributions’ shape. A Shapiro-Wilk test is used to test the normality of the data, and measures of shape are used to define the distributions’ shape. Study findings suggested that log-normal distribution models better the intraday degree sequence data of the network graphs. It is not possible to say that the distributions of log-normal parameters are normal.
EFFECTS OF DIETARY INTERVENTION ON LIPIDS PROFILE OF HIV INFECTED PATIENTS ON ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT (ART)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary intervention on serum lipids, saturated fatty acids and trans-fatty acids in HIV-infected individuals on ART. This design was a non-randomized, non-controlled nutrition intervention study. The setting was in Referral Center in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. Subjects: 57 HIV-infected patients, aged 28.4–68.4 years, were recruited from the outpatient clinic of a reference center. Clinical and European Scientific Journal April 2013 edition vol.9, No.12 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e ISSN 18577431 33 biochemical data were collected from all before and after nutritional counseling. The majority of patients were male, with at least 8 years of schooling and 38.5% had BMI ≥ 25 kg/m. Forty-eight (84%) patients had a family history of chronic diseases and the most common were coronary events (50%). All patients were exposed to antiretroviral therapy and 51% were using Protease Inhibitor. Twelve patients (21%) had a very low HDL-cholesterol and 26 patients (45.5%) had hypertriglyceridemia. There were a significant increase in carbohydrate (p=0.02), protein (p=0.04), selenium (p<0.00005), and calcium (P=0.0007) intake and a significant decreased in total lipid (p=0.002), saturated fatty acids (p=0.0004), trans fatty acids (p=0.0005), and cholesterol total (p=0.0004) after dietary intervention. No significant difference was observed in energy, total fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids after dietary intervention. This study suggested an efficacy of nutritional intervention in the prevention of changes in lipid profile of HIV-positive individuals on ART. These findings also suggest that nutritional intervention should be considered for all patients on ART.
Triple reuptake inhibitor potentially ameliorates the chronic unpredictable stress induced comorbid depression and anxiety: A Behavioural based rodent test battery evaluation

Depression and anxiety tend to be the most prevalent conditions among the multitude of neurobehavioural disorders which cause distress in chronic stress condition. The objective of the present investigation was to examine the effect of DOV-216303 (a tripe re-uptake inhibitor) in depression-like and anxiety-like behaviour of rats following CUS. Rats were subjected to an experimental setting of CUS for 20 days. Escitalopram (10 mg/ kg and DOV-216303 (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) were administered to stressed and sham rats for 14 days during stress period from day 7 of stress induction. Following the CUS and treatment, rats were subjected to a rodent’s behavioural test battery (depression/anxiety). The results demonstrate the depression-like behaviour of CUS rats in modified open field exploration, socio-sexual interaction. In addition, an anxiety-like behaviour was evident in social interaction and elevated plus-maze exploration paradigms. Chronic treatment with Escitalopram (10 mg/ kg) and DOV-216303 (5 and 10 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the CUS associated behavioural deficits. In conclusion, the aforesaid behavioural anomalies observed in CUS rats are analogous to comorbid anxiety and depression in humans.
Situated cognitive engineering : the requirements and design of directed scenario-based training

The development of adaptive virtual learning environments as an educative tool is promising. In this paper we use the situated cognitive engineering method to analyze the operational demands, theoretical foundations and technological opportunities for the design of a Director Agent (DA). A DA uses its knowledge about the virtual world, the trainee, the task domain, and the scenario to intervene in the course of events during the training scenario. The goal of these interventions is to achieve and maintain effectiveness and efficiency of training. A task domain and support analysis is conducted to specify the requirements of a director agent, subsequently, a design architecture that meets these requirements is proposed together with possibilities for future validation.
Planar Motion and Visual Odometry: Pose Estimation from Homographies

This thesis concerns ego-motion and pose estimation of a single camera under the assumptions of planar motion and constant internal camera parameters. Planar motion is common for cameras mounted onto mobile robots, particularly in indoor scenarios, as they remain at a constant height above the ground plane. In Paper A, a parametrisation of the camera motion and pose is presented, along with an iterative approach for determining the parameters. Paper B describes how to extend the method in Paper A to use more than one homography at a time in the estimation process, thereby improving the estimation accuracy and robustness. Paper C presents an alternative method for estimating the distance between camera positions that is independent of the estimated orientation of the cameras. (Less)
Macrofungal diversity associated with the scale-leaf juniper trees, Juniperus excelsa and J. foetidissima, distributed in Turkey

In this article, an attempt has been made to establish the qualitative composition of macromycetes in the communities of scale-leaf juniper, Juniperus excelsa M.Bieb. and J. foetidissima Willd. , distributed in Turkey. A total of 127 species of macrofungi were registered, 2 belonging to Ascomycota and 125 to Basidiomycota. Of those, 69 species were collected in Juniperus excelsa stands, 23 in J. foetidissima stands, and 35 species in both juniper stands. The ecologic status for the fungal species is as follows: 30 lignicolous and 39 terricolous in J. excelsa stands, 19 lignicolous and 4 terricolous in J. foetidissima, and 31 lignicolous and 4 terricolous in both stands. For Turkey, 23 taxa were new, and 5 of them were new at genus level. The new genera were Pyrenopeziza Fuckel, Amyloathelia Hjortstam & Ryvarden, Byssoporia M.J.Larsen & Zak, Globulicium Hjortstam, and Subulicium Hjortstam & Ryvarden.
Thermal Resistance of Calcium Aluminate Cement Based Composites

Building structures can be exposed to extreme conditions during their lifetime. One of these extreme situations is fire, or more precisely, exposure to extreme temperatures. In this case, there is a high likelihood of damage occurring to building materials, which could lead to the final collapse of a whole structure. Ordinary concrete, based on Portland cement, does not resist high temperatures very well; it is suitable for temperatures up to 400 °C. However, when exposed to higher temperatures decomposition of portlandite and dehydration of CSH gel will show. The aim of this thesis is to develop of such cement-based composites with better thermal resistance in regard to the application to structures with higher fire hazard i.e. boards for a tunnel lining or as face panel for improving thermal resistance. The first step was research into an optimization of material composition, which takes into account a choice of raw materials, their characterizations and setting of their amounts. For better thermal stability calcium, aluminate cement was chosen as a binder. The remaining components were basalt aggregate and basalt fibres; furthermore, the combination of different lengths of basalt fibres was investigated also. The second step was an assessment of a thermal resistance of these designed composites. This was performed by virtue of experimental measurement of physical properties. The particular characteristics of concrete were determined after being exposed to three different temperatures; specimens were pre-treated by three thermal loadings (105 °C, 400 °C, and 1000 °C). In the third part, the issue of optimal length fibres combination was investigated with the employment of similar approach of determining the residual properties. From the achieved results were concluded, that designed fibre reinforced, calcium alumina cement based composites with basalt aggregate proved its applicability in civil structures, and the optimal basalt fibres combination of longer: shorter fibres was found in the ratio of 90:10.
Resource Allocation for Two-Way Relay-Assisted Hybrid Cognitive Radio Networks

In this paper, we focus on the resource allocation (RA) in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Access (OFDMA) Two-Way Relay-Assisted (TWR) Cognitive Radio Network (CRN). The spectrum availability in hybrid spectrum sharing was examined based on a sensing-based spectrum sharing. Aggregate Weighted Ergodic Throughput (AWET) of the secondary network was considered as the main objective of the RA. In addition to subcarrier assignment policy, the system design parameters are the transmission power of Secondary Users (SUs), Base Station (BS) and relay nodes, sensing parameters i.e. the sensing time and energy detection threshold. The main contributions of this paper is the proposed novel sensing based RA algorithm and its near optimal solution adopting dual technique coupled with block coordinate descent algorithm for OFDMA TWR-assisted CRNs. Simulation results corroborated the theoretical findings and confirmed the superiority of the hybrid spectrum sharing against overlay and underlay spectrum sharing.
Mapping long-term evapotranspiration losses in the catchment of the shrinking Lake Poopó

Abstract. Lake Poopó is located in the Andean Mountain Range Plateau or Altiplano. A generalised decline in the lake water level has been observed since 2001, coinciding roughly with an intensification of agriculture exploitations such as quinoa crops. Several factors have been blamed for the lake recession, including climate change, increased farming, mining abstractions and population growth. Being an endorheic catchment, evapotranspiration (ET) losses are expected to be the main water output mechanism. This study used a time series of more than 1000 satellite data based products to map ET and vegetation index trends in the Poopó catchment between 2001 and 2014. The aim was to explore the links between ET, vegetation, land use and the lake recession. The years 2015 and 2016 were excluded of the analysis due to the strong impact of El Niño phenomenon over the study area, which could have masked long term temporal trends related to land use. We quantified the ET losses and vegetation indices for the main cover types in the Poopó catchment and their temporal trends in the study period. It became obvious that cultivated areas were the ones which had experienced the largest increase in water consumption, although they were not in all instances the land covers with the largest losses. This quantification provides essential information for the sustainable planning of water resources and land uses in the catchment. We also collected on-site and satellite precipitation data. When integrated over the entire catchment, the overall ET losses showed a sustained increasing trend at an average rate of 3.2 mm yr−1. Rainfall water inputs followed a similar trend, with a slightly higher increasing rate of 5.2 mm yr−1. Based on these results and from the point of view of the catchment water balance, the ET loss intensification derived from crop expansion has been compensated by the increase in precipitation. Consequently, this study found no clear link between the agriculture intensification and the Lake Poopó recession in the analysed period.
Atypical Thermonuclear Supernovae from Tidally Crushed White Dwarfs

Suggestive evidence has accumulated that intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) exist in some globular clusters. As stars diffuse in the cluster, some will inevitable wander sufficiently close to the hole that they suffer tidal disruption. An attractive feature of the IMBH hypothesis is its potential to disrupt not only solar-type stars but also compact white dwarf stars. Attention is given to the fate of white dwarfs that approach the hole close enough to be disrupted and compressed to such an extent that explosive nuclear burning may be triggered. Precise modeling of the dynamics of the encounter, coupled with a nuclear network, allow for a realistic determination of the explosive energy release, and it is argued that ignition is a natural outcome for white dwarfs of all varieties passing well within the tidal radius. Although event rates are estimated to be significantly less than the rate of normal Type Ia supernovae, such encounters may be frequent enough in globular clusters harboring an IMBH to warrant a search for this new class of supernova.
Limited movement of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in yellow passion flower in Brazil

Symptoms of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on yellow passion flower (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) are characterized by bright yellow mottling on leaves, starting at random points on the vine and diminishing in intensity towards the tip, which becomes symptomless as it grows. To determine whether symptomless portions of vines are CMV-free or represent latent infection, leaves with and without symptoms were collected from infected vines in the field. Biological, serological (plate-trapped antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, PTA-ELISA), Western blot and dot-blot hybridization assays showed that portions of the vines without symptoms were CMV-free. Vegetatively propagated vines with symptoms showed remission of symptoms on newly developed leaves. One year later, no CMV was detected in the upper leaves of these plants. Mechanically inoculated passion flower seedlings behaved similarly; symptoms were shown by few leaves after inoculation. Afterwards, plants became symptomless and CMV was not detected in the upper leaves or root system, 40 or 85 days after inoculation. The mechanism responsible for remission of symptoms accompanied by CMV disappearance is not known.
EFFECT OF NITROGEN FERTILIZERS ON NUTRIENT REGIME OF SOILS FOR SWEET SORGHUM UNDER DIFFERENT SUPPLY OF SOILS WITH LABILE PHOSPHORUS

The research results showed that the content of labile elements of nutrition in the soil in connection with the nitrogen fertilization in the initial phases of growth and development of sweet sorghum plants has not changed significantly. The tendency of changing in the content of nutrients remained for both backgrounds of supply of soils with labile phosphorus.
A Price Hedging Model in Dynamic Market

Problem statement: Pricing is a problem when a firm has to set a price for the first time. This happens when the firm develops or acquires a new product, introduces its regular product into a new distribution or geographical area, or enters bids on the new contract work. Many companies try to set the price to maximize current profits. They estimate the demand and costs associated with alternative prices and choose the price that maximizes current profit, cash flow, or rate of return on investment. There are, however, some problems associated with the current profit maximizing approach as it assumes that the firm knows its demand and cost functions; in reality, demand is difficult to estimate and is unpredictable. Approach: Due to demands unpredictability, we assume that it follows a lognormal random walk. Based on this, we develop a mathematical pricing processes model by stochastic calculus, which is similar to the financial process mathematical model. From Itos lemma, a products profit correlates with demand, is also unpredictable and follows a random walk. Such random behavior is the marketing risk. Results: By choosing a price strategy to eliminate randomness, called price hedging, we obtain risk-free profit determined by the Black-Scholes equation. This riskless profit, which is predictable, is the same we would get by putting the equivalent amount of cash in a risk-free interest-bearing account. Conclusion: From price hedging and the Black-Scholes equation, we determine the basic product price, which changes with time and demand.
A FLUID-STRUCTURE INTERACTION STUDY OF BIOFILM DETACHMENT

During the biofilm development process, bacterial cells may detach from the biofilm into the surrounding fluid. The key question in relation to detachment from bacterial biofilm is the mechanical response to hydrodynamic forces. In this study, a Finite Volume Method (FVM) based Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) solver in OpenFOAM package has been developed to model the biofilm response to flow [1]. Dynamic interaction was simulated between an incompressible Newtonian fluid and a bacterial biofilm described as a linear viscoelastic solid. Viscoelastic response of the biofilm was represented by the hereditary integral form of constitutive relation [2] while tensile relaxation modulus was expressed by the Generalised Maxwell Model (GMM) in the form of Prony series (a discrete retardation spectrum). GMM was obtained from the rheometry creep experimental data using a three-step method proposed by Dooling et al. [3]. The creep curves were all viscoelastic in nature and approximated by a linear viscoelastic model represented by Generalised Voigt Model (GVM). Elastic shear modulus (G), obtained from the three-step method, ranged from 583Pa to 1368Pa which were similar to the previous rheometry studies. In this two-dimensional model, biofilm was considered as semi-hemispherical shape (thickness of 100µm and width of 346µm) attached to the center of the bottom boundary of the square cross-section flow cell. Fluid flow through the flow cell was in laminar regime. Simulation results predicted the potential site for biofilm detachment subjected to increasing fluid flow rate through the flow cell.