IOTA-Based Distributed Ledger in the Mining Industry: Efficiency, Sustainability and Transparency

The paper presents a traceability framework founded upon a methodological approach specifically designed for the integration of the IOTA-based distributed ledger within the mining industry. This framework constitutes an initial stride towards the certification and labelling of sustainable material production. The efficacy of this methodology is subject to real-world evaluation within the framework of the European Commission funded project DIG_IT. Within the architectural framework, the integration of decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and the IOTA network are instrumental in effecting the encryption of data records, with associated hashes securely anchored on the explorer. Recorded environmental parameters, encompassing metrics such as pH level, turbidity, electrical conductivity, and emissions, serve as tangible evidence affirming their adherence to prevailing regulatory standards. The overarching system architecture encompasses a sophisticated Industrial Internet of Things platform (IIoTp), facilitating the seamless connection of data from a diverse array of sensors. End users, including governmental entities, mining managers, and the general public, stand to derive substantial benefits from tailored dashboards designed to facilitate the validation of data for emission compliance.

Apoptotic lymphocytes and CD34+ cells in cryopreserved cord blood detected by the fluorescent vital dye SYTO 16 and correlation with loss of L-selectin (CD62L) expression

Discrimination between live and apoptotic cells is important for accurate determination of viable CD34(+) cells in hematopoietic stem cell transplant products. SYTO16 is a sensitive fluorescent dye for discriminating live from apoptotic leukocytes. The incidence of apoptotic leukocytes in paired samples of fresh and cryopreserved-thawed cord blood (CB) was determined by the SYTO16/7-AAD flow cytometric assay. Cell migration and expression of the cell homing molecule L-selectin (CD62L) was determined in relation to SYTO16 staining. SYTO16 detected significant proportions of apoptotic lymphocytes and CD34(+) cells in fresh and thawed CB buffy-coat samples that were not detected by 7-AAD. Compared to fresh CB, the proportion of apoptotic lymphocytes and CD34(+) cells significantly increased following thawing. Significantly higher proportions of live SYTO16(bright) lymphocytes and CD34(+) cells were found in the migrated cell population compared to the non-migrated population. Significantly fewer lymphocytes and CD34(+) cells expressed CD62L following thawing. Absence of CD62L expression was strongly correlated with apoptotic/SYTO16(dim) lymphocytes and CD34(+) cells. Cryopreserved-thawed CB contains significant proportions of apoptotic lymphocytes and CD34(+) cells that are not detected by 7-AAD. SYTO16 offers a sensitive method for discrimination of live from apoptotic leukocytes and assists in accurate assessment of CB quality and suitability for use in clinical transplantation.

Functional analysis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae YFR021w/YGR223c/YPL100w ORF family suggests relations to mitochondrial/peroxisomal functions and amino acid signalling pathways

Saccharomyces cerevisiae YFR021w, YGR223c and YPL100w are paralogous ORFs of unknown function. Phenotypic analysis of overexpression, single-, double- and triple-ORF deletion strains under various growth conditions indicated mitochondria-related functions for all three ORFs. Two-hybrid screens of a yeast genomic library identified potentially interacting proteins for the three ORFs. Among these, the transcriptional activator Rtg3p interacted with both Yfr021wp and Ypl100wp and both ORF single deletions reduced the constitutive expression of the RTG-regulated CIT2 and DLD3 genes and caused typical retrograde response of CIT2 and DLD3 under growth conditions requiring functional mitochondria, indicating that YFR021w and YPL100w are also involved in unidentified mitochondrial functions. Ptr3p, a component of the amino acid sensor Ssy1p/Ptr3p, was also found as a two-hybrid interactant of Yfr021wp. Of the three single-ORF deletions, ypl100w Delta exhibited ptr3 Delta-similar phenotypes. These findings, combined with the fact that RTG-dependent expression is modulated by specific amino acids, suggested possible relations of Yfr021wp and Ypl100wp to amino acid signalling pathways. Under most conditions examined, the effects of the single- and double-ORF deletions indicated that YFR021w, YPL100w and YGR223c are not parts of the same pathway. We found no unique phenotype attributed to the deletion of YGR223c. However, its function interferes with the function of the other two ORFs, as revealed by the effects of double- and triple-ORF deletions.

Genetic evidence for the interaction of the yeast transcriptional co-activator proteins GCN5 and ADA2

The GCN5 and ADA2 proteins are required for the activation function of a number of transcriptional activators in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. By using appropriate LexA fusion proteins we demonstrated that both proteins are required for part of the function of the GCN4, GAL4 and the VP16 transcriptional activation domains. Analysis of a gcn5 ada2 double disruption mutant did not reveal any additive effects, suggesting that the two proteins act in the same pathway. The GCN5 and ADA2 proteins can each activate transcription when directed to the promoter region of a reporter gene, but only in the presence of a wild-type ADA2 or GCN5 gene, respectively. The activation capacity is enhanced when the corresponding endogenous gene copy is disrupted. Taken together, these genetic data suggest that the two proteins interact and define one complex that mediates transcriptional activation. The function of this complex requires the bromodomain region of the GCN5 protein.

Motor cortical activity preceding a memorized movement trajectory with an orthogonal bend

Two monkeys were trained to make an arm movement with an orthogonal bend, first up and then to the left ([symbol: see text]), following a waiting period. They held a two-dimensional manipulandum over a spot of light at the center of a planar working surface. When this light went off, the animals were required to hold the manipulandum there for 600-700 ms and then move the handle up and to the left to receive a liquid reward. There were no external signals concerning the "go" time or the trajectory of the movement. It was hypothesized that during that period signs of directional processing relating to the upcoming movement would be identified in the motor cortex. Following 20 trials of the memorized movement trajectory, 40 trials of visually triggered movements in radially arranged directions were performed. The activity of 137 single cells in the motor cortex was recorded extracellularly during performance of the task. It was found that 62.8% of the cells changed activity during the memorized waiting period. During the waiting period, the population vector (Georgopoulos et al. 1983, 1984) began to grow approximately 130 ms after the center light was turned off; it pointed first in the direction of the second part of the memorized movement (<--) and then rotated clockwise towards the direction of the initial part of the movement (increases). These findings indicate processing of directional information during the waiting period preceding the memorized movement. This conclusion was supported by the results of experiments in ten human subjects, who performed the same memorized movement ([symbol: see text]). In 10% of the trials a visual stimulus was shown in radially arranged directions in which the subjects had to move; this stimulus was shown at 0, 200, and 400 ms from the time the center light was turned off. We found that as the interval increased the reaction time shortened for the visual stimulus that was in the same direction as the upward component of the memorized movement.

Two distinct yeast transcriptional activators require the function of the GCN5 protein to promote normal levels of transcription

When yeast cells are grown under conditions of amino acid limitation, transcription of amino acid biosynthetic genes is increased through the action of the GCN4 transcriptional regulator. gcn5 mutant strains exhibit poor growth under such conditions. We have established that GCN4 requires the function of GCN5 in order to promote normal levels of transcriptional activation. In addition, we have shown that GCN5 is also required for the activity of the HAP2--HAP3--HAP4 transcriptional activation complex, which mediates the transcription of genes involved in respiratory functions. Thus, GCN5 is a new member of the recently revealed general class of transcriptional regulators that collaborate with certain specific DNA binding activators to promote high levels of transcription. We have cloned and sequenced the GCN5 gene. The deduced GCN5 protein contains a region conserved in other yeast, Drosophila and human proteins, all members of this new class of transcriptional activators.

Molecular cloning of an essential yeast gene encoding a proteasomal subunit

We present the cloning and sequence of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene, PUP2, which encodes for a proteasomal subunit. The PUP2 protein is similar to other proteasomal components from yeast, as well as from Drosophila and rat. Although not-properly-folded proteins have been implicated to constitute substrates of proteasomes, we show that the accumulation of such proteins does not induce expression of the PUP2 gene. Finally, gene disruption experiments demonstrate that PUP2 belongs to the class of yeast proteasomal subunits that are essential for cell viability.

Cognitive spatial-motor processes. 7. The making of movements at an angle from a stimulus direction: studies of motor cortical activity at the single cell and population levels

Two rhesus monkeys were trained to move a handle on a two-dimensional (2-D) working surface either towards a visual stimulus ("direct" task) or in a direction orthogonal and counterclockwise (CCW) from the stimulus ("transformation" task), depending on whether the stimulus appeared dim or bright, respectively. Thus the direction of the stimulus (S, in polar coordinates) and the direction of the movement (M) were the same in the direct task but differed in the transformation task, such that M = S + 90 degrees CCW. The task (i.e. brightness) condition (k = 2, i.e. direct or transformation) and the direction of the stimulus (m = 8, i.e. 8 equally spaced directions on a circle) resulted in 16 combinations (k x m = 16 "classes") that were varied from trial to trial in a randomized block design. In 8 of these combinations the direction of the stimulus was the same for both tasks, whereas the direction of the movement was the same in the remaining 8 cases. The electrical signs of cell activity (N = 394 cells) in the arm area of the motor cortex (contralateral to the performing arm) were recorded extracellularly. The neural activity was analyzed at the single cell and neuronal population levels, and a modeling of the time course of single activity during the transformation task was carried out. We found the following. (a) Individual cells were active in both tasks; no cells were found that were active exclusively in only one of the two tasks. The patterns of single cell activity in the transformation task frequently differed from those observed in the direct task when the stimulus or the movement were the same. More specifically, cells could not be consistently classified as "movement"-or "stimulus"-related for frequently the activity of a particular cell would seem "movement-related" for a particular stimulus-movement combination, "stimulus-related" for another combination, or unrelated to either movement or stimulus for still another combination. Thus no real insight could be gained from such an analysis of single cell activity. (e) In a different analysis, we explored the idea that a changing directional signal could be detected in the time course of single cell activity during the reaction time. For that purpose we modeled the time course of single activity observed in the transformation task as a linear, weighted combination of influences from the direct task, taking the time patterns of cell activity during the stimulus, intermediate and movement directions in the direct task as estimates of the postulated directional influences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)