Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-Time Aeroelastic Hybrid Simulation of a Base-Pivoting Building Model in a Wind Tunnel

The wind tunnel test is one of the most reliable methods for evaluating the dynamic response of high-rise buildings considering wind-structure interaction. In conventional aeroelastic wind tunnel tests, the calibration of stiffnesses, masses and the damping properties of a scaled specimen is required. This takes extensive time and effort, especially when the tests need to be repeated with various geometric designs during design iterations. This study introduces a new testing method that combines a numerical simulation and the conventional aeroelastic wind tunnel test through the real-time hybrid simulation method. The stiffness, damping and partial mass of a scaled building model are represented numerically, while the rest of the mass, the wind-induced pressure around the model and the wind-structure interaction are represented physically in a wind tunnel. The building model in the wind tunnel rests on a base-pivoting system, which is controlled with a linear motor. The base moment induced by wind pressure and the inertial force from the mass of the physical specimen is measured; those measurements are then fed back into a numerical integration scheme. A delay-compensation scheme is implemented to minimize the effects of actuator delay on the dynamic response of the system. Several tests are carried out to validate and calibrate the developed test apparatus and control scheme including (1) tests for the identification of actuator delay, (2) free vibration tests for characterization of the dynamic properties of the hardware and the control system, and (3) wind tunnel tests for system validation through aeroelastic real-time hybrid simulation. This paper presents the overall design of the experimental apparatus, the adopted delay compensation and numerical integration schemes, and a summary of the test results. Test results confirmed that the developed experimental technique can replace the conventional aeroelastic wind tunnel tests of a building model, thus improving the efficiency of the aeroelastic wind tunnel testing.
Expression of Viral microRNAs in Serum and White Blood Cells of Cows Exposed to Bovine Leukemia Virus

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) affects the health and productivity of cattle. The virus causes abnormal immune function and immunosuppression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in gene expression, having been associated with stress and immune response, tumor growth, and viral infection. The objective of this study was to determine the expression of circulating miRNAs produced by BLV in animals exposed to the virus. Sera from 14 animals were collected to establish IgG reactivity to BLV by ELISA, where seven animals were seropositive and seven were seronegative for BLV exposure. White blood cells (WBC) from each animal were also collected and miRNAs were identified by sequencing from sera and WBC. The seropositive group had higher counts of BLV miRNAs when compared to seronegative group in sera and WBC. Blv-miR-1-3p, blv-miR-B2-5p, blv-miR-B4-3p, and blv-miR-B5-5p were statistically significant (P < 0.00001) in serum with an average of 7 log2 fold difference between seropositive and seronegative groups. Blv-miR-B1-3p, blv-miR-B1-5p, blv-miR-B3, blv-miR-B4-3p, blv-miR-B4-5p, blv-miR-B5-5p were statistically significant (P < 1.08e−9) in WBC with an average of 7 log2 fold difference between the seropositive and the seronegative groups. Blv-miR-B2-3p and blv-miR-B2-5p were also statistically significant in WBC (P < 2.79e-17), with an average of 27 log2 fold difference between the seropositive and the seronegative groups. There were 18 genes identified as being potential targets for blv-miR-B1-5p, and 3 genes for blv-miR-B4-5p. Gene ontology analysis indicated that the target genes are mainly involved in the response to stress and in the immune system process. Several of the identified genes have been associated with leukemia development in humans and cattle. Differential expression of genes targeted by BLV miRNAs should be evaluated to determine their effect in BLV replication.
Exploring point zero: a study of 20 Chinese cities

ABSTRACT A point zero represents a central geographical location of a city, which is essential for not only measuring distances, but also understanding the historical and/or cultural origin of a city. Although extensive studies have focused on delineating city centers, to our knowledge, no studies have paid attention to determining the location for a point zero. Here, our goal is to investigate various potential approaches for identifying such a location. Specifically, three typical approaches, geometric-based, topological-based, and thematic-based, are proposed to recommend point zeros and different scales, administrative divisions, kernel density surfaces, and regions enclosed by ring roads are used for analysis. The effectiveness of different approaches and scales are evaluated and compared by calculating an offset distance between recommended and actual point zero locations in 20 Chinese cities. Using the different approaches, the average offset distance for most Chinese cities is 2–4 km, and the thematic-based approach performs best. Both the topological-based and thematic-based approaches are less sensitive to the analyzed scale than the geometric-based approach. The results indicate that it is possible to determine the approximate location for a point zero from geographical data. Based on the buffer zone of such a location, an actual point zero may further be recommended.
Developing public servants for the future

ABSTRACT The majority of UK civil servants are ‘developed’ within a particular service or profession and there is frequently very little movement into other service areas. Many current leaders therefore have limited experiences in services and organizations other than their own. This paper presents a new graduate programme for the training and development of future public leaders in Wales. The programme is a leadership and development programme for civil and public servants, exposing them to a range of services. The intention is that, through these experiences, future leaders will approach problems from a multi-service perspective, will be better networked and ready to deal with complexity. Areas of good practice are highlighted, together with some of the challenges of developing leaders in this way.
UNIT COMMITMENT OF DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES IN DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS USING THE DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING METHOD

The integration of renewable energy sources into the distribution networks improves the reliability of power supply, providing clean energy which does not cause pollution. However, the proper unit commitment of the available distributed energy resources helps to decrease the costs for their generation. This paper proposes a method for the unit commitment of RES without storage system based on dynamic programming. The method considers the costs for each RES power generated, depending on their availability at the moment.
A New Nonlinear Active Disturbance Rejection Control for the Cable Car System to Restrain the Vibration

The safety of the cable car system is very important for the lives of the people. But, it is easily affected by the environment such as the wind which causes the cable car system to have strong vibration disturbance, thus degrading the safety of the cable car system. In this paper, a new nonlinear active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) is proposed to restrain the vibration of the cable car. First, a new two-mass-spring system model is utilized to establish the cable car system model. The new translation vibration nonlinear model is derived by a linear-invariant two-mass-spring system. Then, a special nonlinear is designed to restrain the vibration, and a new high-order nonlinear ADRC is presented for the cable car system. Finally, simulation results verify the feasibility and accuracy of the proposed model.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Naïve Human Embryonic Stem Cells Cultured in Three-Dimensional PEG Scaffolds

Derivation of primed and naïve human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have prompted an increased interest in devising culture conditions for maintaining their pluripotency and differential potential. Naïve ESCs are characterized by improved viability, proliferation, and differentiation capacity in comparison to primed ESCs. However, traditional two-dimensional (2-D) cell culture techniques fail to mimic the three-dimensional (3-D) in vivo microenvironment, which results in altered morphological and molecular characteristics of ESCs. Here, we describe the use of 3-D self-assembling scaffolds that support growth and maintenance of the naïve state characteristics of human ESC line, Elf1. Scaffolds were formed via a Michael addition reaction upon combination of two 8-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers functionalized with thiol (PEG-8-SH) and acrylate (PEG-8-Acr) end groups. 3-D scaffolds not only maintained the naïve state, but also supported long-term growth for up to 3 weeks without requiring routine passaging and manipulation. 3-D grown cells exhibited upregulation of core (OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2) and naïve (KLF17, KLF4, TFCP2L1, DPPA3, and DNMT3L) genes. These genes returned to normal levels when 3-D grown cells were propagated under 2-D culture conditions. Examination of RNA-sequencing demonstrated significant changes in gene expression profiles between 2-D and 3-D grown Elf1 cells. Gene Ontology analysis revealed upregulation of biological processes involved in the regulation of transcription and translation, as well as β-catenin-TCF complex assembly, extracellular matrix organization, and chromatin remodeling in 3-D grown Elf1 cells. 3-D culture conditions also induced upregulation of genes associated with several signaling pathways including Wnt signaling and focal adhesion. However, p53 signaling pathway associated genes were downregulated under these culture conditions. Our findings provide insight into the possible mechanisms of prolonged self-renewal as well as upregulation of pluripotent genes stimulated by the transduction of mechanical signals from the 3-D microenvironment.
Phytophthora sojae effector Avr1d functions as an E2 competitor and inhibits ubiquitination activity of GmPUB13 to facilitate infection

Significance Ubiquitination acts as a crucial regulator in plant immunity. Accordingly, microbial pathogens secrete effectors to hijack the host ubiquitination system. However, the molecular mechanisms by which effectors modulate the host ubiquitination system are not yet clear. Here, we found that the Phytophthora sojae effector Avr1d physically binds to the U-box-type E3 ligase GmPUB13, which proved to be a susceptibility factor. The crystal structure of Avr1d complexed with GmPUB13 revealed that Avr1d occupies the binding site in GmPUB13 for E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme and competes with E2 for binding to GmPUB13. Avr1d stabilized GmPUB13 by suppressing the self-ubiquitination activity of GmPUB13 and thereby promoting Phytophthora infection. This study reveals a structural basis for modulation of host targets by Phytophthora effectors. Oomycete pathogens such as Phytophthora secrete a repertoire of effectors into host cells to manipulate host immunity and benefit infection. In this study, we found that an RxLR effector, Avr1d, promoted Phytophthora sojae infection in soybean hairy roots. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified the soybean E3 ubiquitin ligase GmPUB13 as a host target for Avr1d. By coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP), gel infiltration, and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) assays, we confirmed that Avr1d interacts with GmPUB13 both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we found that Avr1d inhibits the E3 ligase activity of GmPUB13. The crystal structure Avr1d in complex with GmPUB13 was solved and revealed that Avr1d occupies the binding site for E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme on GmPUB13. In line with this, Avr1d competed with E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzymes for GmPUB13 binding in vitro, thereby decreasing the E3 ligase activity of GmPUB13. Meanwhile, we found that inactivation of the ubiquitin ligase activity of GmPUB13 stabilized GmPUB13 by blocking GmPUB13 degradation. Silencing of GmPUB13 in soybean hairy roots decreased P. sojae infection, suggesting that GmPUB13 acts as a susceptibility factor. Altogether, this study highlights a virulence mechanism of Phytophthora effectors, by which Avr1d competes with E2 for GmPUB13 binding to repress the GmPUB13 E3 ligase activity and thereby stabilizing the susceptibility factor GmPUB13 to facilitate Phytophthora infection. This study unravels the structural basis for modulation of host targets by Phytophthora effectors and will be instrumental for boosting plant resistance breeding.
Refining pairwise sequence alignments of membrane proteins by the incorporation of anchors

The alignment of primary sequences is a fundamental step in the analysis of protein structure, function, and evolution. Integral membrane proteins pose a significant challenge for such sequence alignment approaches, because their evolutionary relationships can be very remote, and because a high content of hydrophobic amino acids reduces their complexity. Frequently, biochemical or biophysical data is available that informs the optimum alignment, for example, indicating specific positions that share common functional or structural roles. Currently, if those positions are not correctly aligned by a standard pairwise alignment procedure, the incorporation of such information into the alignment is typically addressed in an ad hoc manner, with manual adjustments. However, such modifications are problematic because they reduce the robustness and reproducibility of the alignment. An alternative approach is the use of restraints, or anchors, to incorporate such position-matching explicitly during alignment. Here we introduce position anchoring in the alignment tool AlignMe as an aid to pairwise sequence alignment of membrane proteins. Applying this approach to realistic scenarios involving distantly-related and low complexity sequences, we illustrate how the addition of even a single anchor can dramatically improve the accuracy of the alignments, while maintaining the reproducibility and rigor of the overall alignment.
Bidirectional regulation of glial potassium buffering: glioprotection versus neuroprotection

Glia modulate neuronal excitability and seizure sensitivity by maintaining potassium and water homeostasis. A SIK3-regulated gene expression program controls the glial capacity to buffer K+ and water, however upstream regulatory mechanisms are unknown. Here we identify an octopaminergic circuit linking neuronal activity to glial ion and water buffering. Under basal conditions, octopamine functions through the inhibitory octopaminergic GPCR OctβR to upregulate glial buffering capacity, while under pathological K+ stress, octopamine signals through the stimulatory octopaminergic GPCR OAMB1 to downregulate the glial buffering program. Failure to downregulate this program leads to intracellular glia swelling and stress signaling, suggesting that turning down this pathway is glioprotective. In the eag shaker Drosophila seizure model, the SIK3-mediated buffering pathway in inactivated. Re-activation of the glial buffering program dramatically suppresses neuronal hyperactivity, seizures, and shortened lifespan in this mutant. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of a glial-centric therapeutic strategy for diseases of hyperexcitability.
NotiModes: an investigation of notification delay modes and their effects on smartphone users

Despite the extensive analysis of the consequences of interruptions caused by smartphone notifications, research on the effects on users has so far been sparse. Therefore, in this work we (1) explore concepts on preventing interruptions elicited by notification delay in a focus group; (2) implement a smartphone application manipulating the notification delay in three distinct ways varying in the degree of user-control; (3) evaluate all three concepts with 13 users in a four-week field trial. We thereby gather qualitative feedback in 52 semi-structured interviews, one per participant after each mode and an additional control week. The results show that through the intensive preoccupation with their notification management, users reflect critically about advantages and disadvantages of their continuous reachability. Based on the results from the focus group and field trial, we derive four design implications summarizing the users' experiences and suggestions on notification delay mechanisms.
beta-blocker reverses inhibition of beta-2 adrenergic receptor resensitization by hypoxia

Ischemia/hypoxia is major underlying cause for heart failure and stroke. Although beta-adrenergic receptor (βAR) is phosphorylated in response to hypoxia, less is known about the underlying mechanisms. Hypoxia results in robust GRK2-mediated β2AR phosphorylation but does not cause receptor internalization. However, hypoxia leads to significant endosomal-β2AR phosphorylation accompanied by inhibition of β2AR-associated protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity impairing resensitization. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) impedes resensitization by phosphorylating endogenous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A, I2PP2A that inhibits PP2A activity. Hypoxia increased PI3Kγ activity leading to significant phosphorylation of I2PP2A resulting in inhibition of PP2A and consequently resensitization. Surprisingly, β-blocker abrogated hypoxia-mediated β2AR phosphorylation instead of phosphorylation in normoxia. Subjecting mice to hypoxia leads to significant cardiac dysfunction and β2AR phosphorylation showing conservation of non-canonical hypoxia-mediated pathway in vivo. These findings provide mechanistic insights on hypoxia-mediated βAR dysfunction which is rescued by β-blocker and will have significant implications in heart failure and stroke.
The mitochondrial surface receptor Tom70 protects the cytosol against mitoprotein-induced stress

Most mitochondrial proteins are synthesized as precursors in the cytosol and post-translationally transported into mitochondria. The mitochondrial surface protein Tom70 acts at the interface of the cytosol and mitochondria. In vitro import experiments identified Tom70 as targeting receptor, particularly for hydrophobic carriers. Using in vivo methods and high content screens, we revisited the question of Tom70 function and considerably expanded the set of Tom70-dependent mitochondrial proteins. We demonstrate that the crucial activity of Tom70 is its ability to recruit cytosolic chaperones to the outer membrane. Indeed, tethering an unrelated chaperone-binding domain onto the mitochondrial surface complements most of the defects caused by Tom70 deletion. Tom70-mediated chaperone recruitment reduces the proteotoxicity of mitochondrial precursor proteins, in particular of hydrophobic inner membrane proteins. Thus, our work suggests that the predominant function of Tom70 is to tether cytosolic chaperones to the outer mitochondrial membrane, rather than to serve as a mitochondria-specifying targeting receptor.
Viruses as Costs to Gregarious Feeding Behaviour in the Lepidoptera

I present evidence that gregariously feeding species of Lepidoptera have evolved resistance to infection by their viral parasites, in terms of the larger amounts of virus needed to cause an infection as larvae age. First, I show a significant positive association between age-related resistance to infection by viruses and gregarious feeding behaviour in 13 case studies involving temperate Lepidoptera. Since pronounced levels of resistance to viral infection are not found in solitary species it can be inferred that this resistance has evolved in gregarious species at a cost
Population structure and mating system of a desert bee fly (Lordotus pulchrissimus; Diptera: Bombyliidae). II: Female demography, copulations and characteristics of swarm sites

Toft (1989) established that males of the bee fly Lordotus pulchrissimus gather daily in aerial swarms on stabilized dunes on the north shore of Mono Lake, Mono Co., California, during August. This paper provides data on female demography and distribution, copulations, and habitat characteristics and evaluates the mating system of L. pulchrissimus. Females emerged four or five days later than males, on average, and emerged for ca. 20 d beginning the first week of August, more than half the season of adult activity (30 to 40 d). Females appeared to have a life expectancy of about 10 to 14 d, somewhat longer than males, and to mate only once, within three days of eclosion. At peak abundance, approximately when females stopped emerging, females occurred at a density of five per ha. Individual females ranged over an area of 60 to 100 m in diameter, on average, during a 10 to 14-d period. Although sizes overlapped considerably, females were on average smaller than males. Individuals found in copulation were larger than individuals in the general population; this difference was significant for males but not females. These data suggest intrasexual selection favoring large males, and in addition, there was weak tendency toward size-assortative mating. Copulations lasted up to 10 min and most occurred in a half-hour period around 1100 hours, Pacific Daylight Time, when the peak number of males occurred in the aerial swarms (Toft 1989). Swarms of male L. pulchrissimus did not occur where resources for females or their offspring were found in greater abundance than in the habitat at large, nor was there any obvious encounter convention such as attraction to hill tops. I conclude that L. pulchrissimus exhibits lek polygyny and fits the scenario proposed for the evolution of this mating system in insects.
IoT eHealth Applications for Chronically Ill Patients: Requirements and Design Principles

Chronic diseases are a global burden affecting billions of people, causing millions of deaths per year and excessive costs for healthcare systems. Smart and ubiquitous eHealth applications supporting patients in their everyday life could have a major impact on patients’ quality of life and treatment outcomes. In this paper, we present results of an online survey with 320 participants (188 chronically ill patients, 132 persons related to chronic diseases in various ways, e.g. relatives) in order to gain insights into expectations and concerns of patients with chronic conditions towards eHealth solutions based on Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. 175 of them finished the questionnaire completely. In addition, interviews with 8 physicians on patient-doctor-relationships, therapy processes of patients with chronic health conditions and opportunities for improvements through IoT-based eHealth services were conducted. By thematic analysis of the results, requirements were identified that future applications need to fulfill to achieve acceptance and long-term usage. Accordingly, we present six design principles for IoT-based eHealth applications for chronically ill patients.