History Dependence in a Chemical Reaction Network Enables Dynamic Switching

This work describes an enzymatic autocatalytic network capable of dynamic switching under out-of-equilibrium conditions. The network, wherein a molecular fuel (trypsinogen) and an inhibitor (soybean trypsin inhibitor) compete for a catalyst (trypsin), is kept from reaching equilibria using a continuous flow stirred tank reactor. A so-called ‘linear inhibition sweep’ is developed (i.e., a molecular analogue of linear sweep voltammetry) to intentionally perturb the competition between autocatalysis and inhibition, and used to demonstrate that a simple molecular system, comprising only three components, is already capable of a variety of essential neuromorphic behaviors (hysteresis, synchronization, resonance, and adaptation). This research provides the first steps in the development of a strategy that uses the principles in systems chemistry to transform chemical reaction networks into platforms capable of neural network computing.</p

Bit Distribution Study and Implementation of Spatial Quality Map in the JPEG-AI Standardization

Currently, there is a high demand for neural network-based image compression codecs. These codecs employ non-linear transforms to create compact bit representations and facilitate faster coding speeds on devices compared to the hand-crafted transforms used in classical frameworks. The scientific and industrial communities are highly interested in these properties, leading to the standardization effort of JPEG-AI. The JPEG-AI verification model has been released and is currently under development for standardization. Utilizing neural networks, it can outperform the classic codec VVC intra by over 10% BD-rate operating at base operation point. Researchers attribute this success to the flexible bit distribution in the spatial domain, in contrast to VVC intra's anchor that is generated with a constant quality point. However, our study reveals that VVC intra displays a more adaptable bit distribution structure through the implementation of various block sizes. As a result of our observations, we have proposed a spatial bit allocation method to optimize the JPEG-AI verification model's bit distribution and enhance the visual quality. Furthermore, by applying the VVC bit distribution strategy, the objective performance of JPEG-AI verification mode can be further improved, resulting in a maximum gain of 0.45 dB in PSNR-Y.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 4 table

The Evaluation of the Role of Beta-Hydroxy Fatty Acids on Chronic Inflammation and Insulin Resistance

β-hydroxy fatty acids are a major component of lipid A moiety of lipopolysaccaride. We aimed to investigate the role of free β-hydroxy fatty acids on inflammation, as well as to evaluate their effects on cytokine release from human blood cells, and whether they exist in plasma of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases with/without insulin resistance. Peripheral venous blood was incubated with β-hydroxy lauric and β-hydroxy myristic acids (each 100 ng, 1 μg, 10 μg/mL) up to 24 hours. Cytokines were measured from culture media and plasma. Free fatty acids and biochemical parameters were also measured from patients' plasma. Only β-hydroxy lauric acid significantly stimulated interleukin-6 production at 10 μg/mL compared to control (533.9 ± 218.1 versus 438.3 ± 219.6 pg/mL, P < .05). However, free β-hydroxy lauric and myristic acids were not found in patients' plasma. Therefore, free β-hydroxy lauric and myristic acids do not seem to have a role on sterile inflammation in chronic inflammatory diseases associated with insulin resistance

Determination of the cold storage conditions of some apple cultivars

Bu araştırma 2000 2002 yıllan arasında Eğirdir Bahçe Kültürleri Araştırma Enstitüsü ve Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Bahçe Bitkileri Bölümü Derim Sonrası Fizyoloji Laboratuvarında yürütülmüştür. Çalışmada M9 anacı üzerine aşılı Granny Smith, Imparatore ve Idared elma çeşitlerinin soğukta depolanma koşulları incelenmiştir. Uygun depolama koşulunu belirlemek için iki farklı zamanda derilen elmalar ilk yıl 0 oC ve % 90-95 nispi nem , ikinci yıl -1, 0 ve +2 oC sıcaklık ve yine % 90-95 nispi nem koşullarına sahip üç farklı soğuk odada 6 ay süreyle depolanmışlardır. Depolama boyunca birer ay aralıklarla depodan çıkartılan örneklerde ağırlık kaybı, meyve eti sertliği, suda çözünebilir kuru madde, titre edilebilir asitlik ve renk değerleriyle beraber fizyolojik ve patojen kaynaklı bozulmalar incelenmiştir. Deneme sonuçlarına göre Eğirdir ekolojisinde M9 anacı üzerinde yetiştirilen Granny Smith, Imparatore ve Idared elma çeşitlerinin 0 oC sıcaklık ve % 90-95 nispi nem koşullarında 5-6 ay depolanabileceği saptanmıştır.This research was carried out at Horticulture Research Institute of Egirdir and Postharvest Physiology Lab. of Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Süleyman Demirel between 2000 and 20002. Storage conditions of apple varieties Granny Smith, Imparatore and Idared grafted on M9 rootstock were investigated. In order to determine the optimum storage condition, these varieties harvested two different stage were stored at 0 Ctemperature and 90-95%relative humidity in the first year, and at -1, 0 and +2 Cand 90-95% RHin the second year for 6 months. During the storage period, weight loss, fruit flesh firmness, total solible solid, titretable acidity, colorimeter values (L*, a*, b*) and physiological disorders of apples taken from storage by montly intervals were examined.According to the storage results, it is determined that Granny Smith, Imparatore and Idared apple varieties can be stored at 0 Ctemperature and 90-95%relative humidity for 5-6 months

Adapting Learned Image Codecs to Screen Content via Adjustable Transformations

As learned image codecs (LICs) become more prevalent, their low coding efficiency for out-of-distribution data becomes a bottleneck for some applications. To improve the performance of LICs for screen content (SC) images without breaking backwards compatibility, we propose to introduce parameterized and invertible linear transformations into the coding pipeline without changing the underlying baseline codec's operation flow. We design two neural networks to act as prefilters and postfilters in our setup to increase the coding efficiency and help with the recovery from coding artifacts. Our end-to-end trained solution achieves up to 10% bitrate savings on SC compression compared to the baseline LICs while introducing only 1% extra parameters.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, 2 table

CRISPR/Cas9-constructed pseudorabies virus mutants reveal the importance of UL13 in alphaherpesvirus escape from genome silencing

Latent and recurrent productive infection of long-living cells, such as neurons, enables alphaherpesviruses to persist in their host populations. Still, the viral factors involved in these events remain largely obscure. Using a complementation assay in compartmented primary peripheral nervous system (PNS) neuronal cultures, we previously reported that productive replication of axonally delivered genomes is facilitated by pseudorabies virus (PRV) tegument proteins. Here, we sought to unravel the role of tegument protein UL13 in this escape from silencing. We first constructed four new PRV mutants in the virulent Becker strain using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene replacement: (i) PRV Becker defective for UL13 expression (PRV Delta UL13), (ii) PRV where UL13 is fused to eGFP (PRV UL13-eGFP), and two control viruses (iii and iv) PRV where VP16 is fused with mTurquoise at either the N terminus (PRV mTurq-VP16) or the C terminus (PRV VP16-mTurq). Live-cell imaging of PRV capsids showed efficient retrograde transport after axonal infection with PRV UL13-eGFP, although we did not detect dual-color particles. However, immunofluorescence staining of particles in mid-axons indicated that UL13 might be cotransported with PRV capsids in PNS axons. Superinfecting nerve cell bodies with UV-inactivated PRV DUL13 failed to efficiently promote escape from genome silencing compared to UV-PRV wild type and UV-PRV UL13-eGFP superinfection. However, UL13 does not act directly in the escape from genome silencing, as adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated UL13 expression in neuronal cell bodies was not sufficient to provoke escape from genome silencing. Based on this, we suggest that UL13 may contribute to initiation of productive infection through phosphorylation of other tegument proteins. IMPORTANCE Alphaherpesviruses have mastered various strategies to persist in an immunocompetent host, including the induction of latency and reactivation in peripheral nervous system (PNS) ganglia. We recently discovered that the molecular mechanism underlying escape from latency by the alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PRV) relies on a structural viral tegument protein. This study aimed at unravelling the role of tegument protein UL13 in PRV escape from latency. First, we confirmed the use of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene replacement as a versatile tool to modify the PRV genome. Next, we used our new set of viral mutants and AAV vectors to conclude the indirect role of UL13 in PRV escape from latency in primary neurons, along with its spatial localization during retrograde capsid transport in axons. Based on these findings, we speculate that UL13 phosphorylates one or more tegument proteins, thereby priming these putative proteins to induce escape from genome silencing

Rare hemoglobin variant Hb Yaizu observed in Turkey

Objective: To determine the characteristic features of the rare hemoglobin (Hb) variant Hb Yaizu to enable laboratory diagnosis of the hemoglobin variants during screening programs. Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA was obtained from the 4 members of a family living in Denizli province, an Aegean region of Turkey. Blood cell counts, hemoglobin composition, hemoglobin electrophoresis (both alkaline and acid), HPLC analysis, DNA sequencing and beta globin gene cluster haplotypes were done. Results: Hb Yaizu carriers were apparently healthy individuals. Hb Yaizu was slightly faster than Hb S at alkaline pH, but slower than Hb S at acidic pH in hemoglobin electrophoresis. An abnormal hemoglobin peak was observed with a retention time of 4.77 min in HPLC analysis attributed to Hb Yaizu. Two members of the family were heterozygous Hb Yaizu [beta 79(EF3) Asp>Asn] confirmed by DNA sequencing. The mutation was found to be linked with the Mediterranean haplotype I [+ - - ++]. Conclusion: We have presented the details of Hb Yaizu, a rare hemoglobin variant that may be important to hemoglobinopathy screening programs, although its clinical significance is unclear. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG