B4DS @ PRELEARN: Ensemble method for prerequisite learning

In this paper we describe the methodologies we proposed to tackle the EVALITA 2020 shared task PRELEARN. We propose both a methodology based on gated recurrent units as well as one using more classical word embeddings together with ensemble methods. Our goal in choosing these approaches, is twofold, on one side we wish to see how much of the prerequisite information is present within the pages themselves. On the other we would like to compare how much using the information from the rest of Wikipedia can help in identifying this type of relation. This second approach is particularly useful in terms of extension to new entities close to the one in the corpus provided for the task but not actually present in it. With this methodologies we reached second position in the challenge

Interfering with mRNA methylation by the 2′O-Methyltransferase (NSP16) from SARS-CoV-2 to tackle the COVID-19 disease

The pandemic associated to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in a huge number of deaths and infected people. Although several vaccine programmes are currently underway and have reached phase 3, and a few small size drugs repurposed to aid treatment of severe cases of COVID-19 infections, effective therapeutic options for this disease do not currently exist. NSP16 is a S-adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAM) dependent 2′O-Methyltransferase that converts mRNA cap-0 into cap-1 structure to prevent virus detection by cell innate immunity mechanisms. NSP16 methylates the ribose 2′O-position of the first nucleotide of the mRNA only in the presence of an interacting partner, the protein NSP10. This feature suggests that inhibition of the NSP16 may represent a therapeutic window to treat COVID-19. To test this idea, we performed comparative structural analyses of the NSP16 present in human coronaviruses and developed a sinefungin (SFG) similarity-based virtual screening campaign to assess the druggability of the SARS-CoV-2 NSP16 enzyme. Through these studies, we identified the SFG analogue 44601604 as a promising more potent inhibitor of NSP16 to limit viral replication in infected cells, favouring viral clearance

The internal Cdc20 binding site in BubR1 facilitates both spindle assembly checkpoint signalling and silencing

Improperly attached kinetochores activate the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) and by an unknown mechanism catalyse the binding of two checkpoint proteins, ​Mad2 and ​BubR1, to ​Cdc20 forming the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC). Here, to address the functional role of ​Cdc20 kinetochore localization in the SAC, we delineate the molecular details of its interaction with kinetochores. We find that ​BubR1 recruits the bulk of ​Cdc20 to kinetochores through its internal Cdc20 binding domain (IC20BD). We show that preventing ​Cdc20 kinetochore localization by removal of the IC20BD has a limited effect on the SAC because the IC20BD is also required for efficient SAC silencing. Indeed, the IC20BD can disrupt the MCC providing a mechanism for its role in SAC silencing. We thus uncover an unexpected dual function of the second ​Cdc20 binding site in ​BubR1 in promoting both efficient SAC signalling and SAC silencing

Miniature Sensor Node with Conformal Phased Array

This paper reports on the design and fabrication of a fully integrated antenna beam steering concept for wireless sensor nodes. The conformal array circumcises four cube faces with a silicon core mounted on each face. Every silicon core represents a 2 by 1 antenna array with an antenna element consisting of a dipole antenna, a balun, and a distributed MEMS phase shifter. All these components are based on a single wafer process and designed to work at 17.2 GHz. Simulations of the entire system and first results of individual devices are reported

Effects Of Heat On Seven Endodontic Sealers

Purpose: To examine the microscopic surface features, chemical composition, and thermodynamic profile of seven endodontic sealers (AH Plus, Adseal, MTA-Fillapex, RoekoSeal, GuttaFlow 2, GuttaFlow BioSeal, and EndoRez) exposed to high-temperature changes using an endodontic obturation device. Methods: The thermal properties were examined using scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Then, six disc-shaped specimens of each sealer were prepared and divided into two groups – a room temperature group and a heat exposure group – for analysis of surface and chemical changes using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Results: DSC analysis showed that AH Plus had the highest exothermal signal (122.9°C), while TGA analysis showed that MTA-Fillapex was most affected by increased temperature (32.4% mass loss at 230ºC). SEM analysis showed that while AH Plus and GuttaFlow BioSeal maintained their surface integrity after heat exposure, the EDS profiles demonstrated changes in the chemical composition of the sealers after heat exposure for 5 s. High-temperature exposure had a negative impact on the properties of five of the sealers (Adseal, MTA-Fillapex, RoekoSeal, GuttaFlow 2, and EndoRez). Conclusion: AH Plus and GuttaFlow BioSeal showed minimal changes upon high-temperature exposure, suggesting their suitability for thermal endodontic obturation techniques

Targeting DNA Repair Mechanisms in Bacterial Persisters

Bacterial persisters, cells able to survive high concentrations of antimicrobial agents, are problematic in the medical field due to being responsible for recurring infections, and in industrial settings due to causing contamination in pipes. Furthermore, bacterial biofilms add complexity due to being more enduring than stand alone planktonic bacteria. The inability to successfully eradicate persisters present in patients with recurring bacterial infections and from industrial pipes has prompted interest in targeting persisters through metabolomics. Moreover, interest has expressed in determining the distribution of persisters in biofilms, if any, and why persisters would be more localized in one area than in another. Targeting the DNA repair mechanisms of bacteria, and mapping persister distribution in biofilms are of much interest. The expression of RecA, a protein essential for catalyzing the SOS response for damaged DNA, was targeted in wild type E.coli in order to create RecA lacking E.coli mutants. The mutants were then treated with ofloxacin, a fluroquinolone that causes DNA damage, in order to examine the effects of inhibiting the SOS response. Separately, wild type E.coli biofilms were grown and subsequently sectioned into different categories, with the determining factor being color, to then be treated with antibiotics in order to determine the distribution of persisters. The implications of this study show that targeting DNA repair mechanisms in bacteria can lead to a significant reduction of persisters, as well as that persisters in biofilms are not localized in some areas more than others despite differences in color.Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department ofHonors Colleg

Constraining Non-Standard Interactions of the Neutrino with Borexino

We use the Borexino 153.6 ton.year data to place constraints on non-standard neutrino-electron interactions, taking into account the uncertainty in the 7Be solar neutrino flux, and backgrounds due to 85Kr and 210Bi beta-decay. We find that the bounds are comparable to existing bounds from all other experiments. Further improvement can be expected in Phase II of Borexino due to the reduction in the 85Kr background.Comment: 21 pages, 16 pdf figures, 2 tables. Analysis updated including the uncertainty in sin^2\theta_{23}. Accepted in JHE

A hybrid of 1-deoxynojirimycin and benzotriazole induces preferential inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) over acetylcholinesterase (AChE)

The synthesis of four heterodimers in which the copper(I)-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition was employed to connect a 1-deoxynojirimycin moiety with a benzotriazole scaffold is reported. The heterodimers were investigated as inhibitors against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). The heterodimers displayed preferential inhibition (> 9) of BuChE over AChE in the micromolar concentration range (IC50 = 7–50 µM). For the most potent inhibitor of BuChE, Cornish-Bowden plots were used, which demonstrated that it behaves as a mixed inhibitor. Modelling studies of the same inhibitor demonstrated that the benzotriazole and 1-deoxynojirimycin moiety is accommodated in the peripheral anionic site and catalytic anionic site, respectively, of AChE. The binding mode to BuChE was different as the benzotriazole moiety is accommodated in the catalytic anionic site.publishedVersio