Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multigenic Families in Ichnovirus: A Tissue and Host Specificity Study through Expression Analysis of Vankyrins from Hyposoter didymator Ichnovirus

The viral ankyrin (vankyrin) gene family is represented in all polydnavirus (PDVs) genomes and encodes proteins homologous to I-kappaBs, inhibitors of NF-kappaB transcription factors. The structural similarities led to the hypothesis that vankyrins mimic eukaryotic factors to subvert important physiological pathways in the infected host. Here, we identified nine vankyrin genes in the genome of the Hyposoter didymator Ichnovirus (HdIV). Time-course gene expression experiments indicate that all members are expressed throughout parasitism of Spodoptera frugiperda, as assessed using RNA extracted from whole larvae. To study tissue and/or species specificity transcriptions, the expression of HdIV vankyrin genes were compared between HdIV-injected larvae of S. frugiperda and S. littoralis. The transcriptional profiles were similar in the two species, including the largely predominant expression of Hd27-vank1 in all tissues examined. However, in various insect cell lines, the expression patterns of HdIV vankyrins differed according to species. No clear relationship between vankyrin expression patterns and abundance of vankyrin-bearing genomic segments were found in the lepidopteran cell lines. Moreover, in these cells, the amount of vankyrin-bearing genomic segments differed substantially between cytosol and nuclei of infected cells, implying the existence of an unexpected step regulating the copy number of HdIV segments in cell nuclei. Our in vitro results reveal a host-specific transcriptional profile of vankyrins that may be related to the success of parasitism in different hosts. In Spodoptera hosts, the predominant expression of Hd27-vank1 suggests that this protein might have pleiotropic functions during parasitism of these insect species.
Risk-Adjusted Medicare Capitation Rates Using Ambulatory and Inpatient Diagnoses

Researchers at The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) developed two new diagnosis-oriented methodologies for setting risk-adjusted capitation rates for managed care plans contracting with Medicare. These adjusters predict the future medical expenditures of aged Medicare enrollees based on demographic factors and diagnostic information. The models use the Ambulatory Care Group (ACG) algorithm to categorize ambulatory diagnoses. Two alternative approaches for categorizing inpatient diagnoses were used. Lewin-VHI, Inc. evaluated the models using data from 624,000 randomly selected aged Medicare beneficiaries. The models predict expenditures far better than the Adjusted Average per Capita Cost (AAPCC) payment method. It is possible that risk-adjusted capitation payments could encourage health plans to compete on the basis of efficiency and quality and not risk selection.
A 300&#181;mW 1.9GHz CMOS oscillator utilizing micromachined resonators

A low-power, low phase-noise 1.9GHz RF oscillator is presented. The oscillator utilizes a single thin-film bulk acoustic wave resonator and was implemented in a standard 0. 18µm CMOS process. This paper addresses design issues involved in co-designing micromachined resonators with CMOS circuitry to realize ultra-low power RF transceiver components. The oscillator achieves a phase noise performance of -100dBc/Hz at 10kHz offset, -120dBc/Hz at 100kHz offset, and -140dBc/Hz at 1MHz offset. The start-up time of the oscillator is less than 1µS. The oscillator core consumes 300µA from a 1V supply.
Eddy covariance flux measurements of biogenic VOCs during ECHO 2003 using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry

Abstract. Within the framework of the AFO 2000 project ECHO, two PTR-MS instruments were operated in combination with sonic anemometers to determine biogenic VOC fluxes from a mixed deciduous forest site in North-Western Germany. The measurement site was characterised by a forest of inhomogeneous composition, complex canopy structure, limited extension in certain wind directions and frequent calm wind conditions during night time. The eddy covariance (EC) technique was applied since it represents the most direct flux measurement approach on the canopy scale and is, therefore, least susceptible to these non-ideal conditions. A specific flux calculation method was used to account for the sequential multi-component PTR-MS measurements and allowing an individual delay time adjustment as well as a rigorous quality control based on cospectral analysis. The validated flux results are consistent with light and temperature dependent emissions of isoprene and monoterpenes from this forest, with average daytime emissions of 0.94 and 0. 3µg m-2s-1, respectively. Emissions of methanol reached on average 0. 087µg m-2s-1 during daytime, but fluxes were too small to be detected during night time. Upward fluxes of the isoprene oxidation products methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) and methacrolein (MACR) were also found, being two orders of magnitude lower than those of isoprene. Calculations with an analytical footprint model indicate that the observed isoprene fluxes correlate with the fraction of oaks within the footprints of the flux measurement.
Frontal variant of Alzheimer's disease and typical Alzheimer's disease: a comparative study

Clinical heterogeneity is one of the characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hence, the atypical frontal or dysexecutive presentation is becoming increasingly well-known, although the underlying factors are still unknown. In this study, the neuropsychological performance of two groups of patients with AD (frontal variant--ADfv--and typical--TAD) were compared. The ADfv group (n = 13) was selected due to the exist- ence of frontal hypoperfusion on a simple photon emission computer to- mography (SPECT). The results revealed that the ADfv group displayed a severe dysexecutive disorder, more severe neuropsychiatric symptomatolo- gy (disinhibition and apathy), more functional impairment, and it generated a higher caregiver overload than the TAD group without frontal impair- ment (n = 47). Despite the facts that the ADfv group's performance was poorer in all the neuropsychological tests, significant group differences were only found in the processing speed and visuoconstruction tasks. Lo- gistic regression analysis revealed that the processing speed and mental flexibility scores significantly predicted a diagnosis of ADfv. The existence of the grasp reflex, anosognosia, and the absence of apolipoprotein E epsi- lon 4 allele (APOE e4) were also more prevalent in the ADfv group. This group had a predominance of males and it was more likely to have a posi- tive family history of AD. To conclude, the study suggests that ADfv rep- resents a subtype of AD that seems to have different clinical, neuropsycho- logical, and genetic characteristics from TAD.
Livestock-Associated Methicillin and Multidrug Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Is Present among Industrial, Not Antibiotic-Free Livestock Operation Workers in North Carolina

Objectives Administration of antibiotics to food animals may select for drug-resistant pathogens of clinical significance, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In the United States, studies have examined prevalence of MRSA carriage among individuals exposed to livestock, but prevalence of multidrug-resistant S. aureus (MDRSA) carriage and the association with livestock raised with versus without antibiotic selective pressure remains unclear. We aimed to examine prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility, and molecular characteristics of S. aureus among industrial livestock operation (ILO) and antibiotic-free livestock operation (AFLO) workers and household members in North Carolina. Methods Participants in this cross-sectional study were interviewed and provided a nasal swab for S. aureus analysis. Resulting S. aureus isolates were assessed for antibiotic susceptibility, multi-locus sequence type, and absence of the scn gene (a marker of livestock association). Results Among 99 ILO and 105 AFLO participants, S. aureus nasal carriage prevalence was 41% and 40%, respectively. Among ILO and AFLO S. aureus carriers, MRSA was detected in 7% (3/41) and 7% (3/42), respectively. Thirty seven percent of 41 ILO versus 19% of 42 AFLO S. aureus-positive participants carried MDRSA. S. aureus clonal complex (CC) 398 was observed only among workers and predominated among ILO (13/34) compared with AFLO (1/35) S. aureus-positive workers. Only ILO workers carried scn-negative MRSA CC398 (2/34) and scn-negative MDRSA CC398 (6/34), and all of these isolates were tetracycline resistant. Conclusions Despite similar S. aureus and MRSA prevalence among ILO and AFLO-exposed individuals, livestock-associated MRSA and MDRSA (tetracycline-resistant, CC398, scn-negative) were only present among ILO-exposed individuals. These findings support growing concern about antibiotics use and confinement in livestock production, raising questions about the potential for occupational exposure to an opportunistic and drug-resistant pathogen, which in other settings including hospitals and the community is of broad public health importance.
Applying risk analytic techniques to the integrated assessment of climate policy benefits

The two main flavours of integrated climate change assessment (formal cost benefit analysis and the precautionary approach to assessing dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system) also reflect the major controversies in applying climate policy. In this assessment, we present an approach to using risk weighting that endeavours to bridge the gap between these two approaches. The likelihood of damage in 2100 to four representative economic damage curves and four biophysical damage curves according to global mean warming in 2100 is assessed for a range of emissions futures. We show that no matter which future is followed, the application of climate policy through mitigation will reduce the most damaging outcomes first. By accounting for the range of plausible risks, the benefit of mitigation can be substantial for even small reductions in emissions. Disparate impacts calibrated across multiple metrics can be displayed in a common format, allowing monetary and non-monetary impacts and benefits to be assessed within a single framework. The applicability of the framework over a wide range of climate scenarios, and its ability to function with a range of different input information (e.g. climate sensitivity) also shows that it can be used to incorporate new or updated information without losing its basic integrity.
The Impact of Baroclinic Eddy Feedback on the Persistence of Jet Variability in the Two-Layer Model

Although it is well known that the persistence of extratropical jet shifts is enhanced by a positive eddy feedback, the dynamics of this feedback is still debated. Two types of mechanisms have been proposed: barotropic mechanisms rely on changes in upper-level propagation and baroclinic mechanisms rely on the coupling between barotropic and baroclinic flow. Recent studies have suggested that barotropic models can capture key aspects of the observed jet variability but the role of baroclinic dynamics has been less explored. This study investigates the temporal relations between barotropic and baroclinic anomalies and their eddy forcings during the internal variability of the simple two-layer quasigeostrophic model. A large correlation is found between barotropic and baroclinic anomalies and between the meridional and vertical components of the Eliassen‐Palm divergence, especially at low frequency. The low-frequency variability is consistent with the baroclinic mechanism: persistent upper-level eddy momentum convergence is associated with (and precedes) persistentanomaliesinthepolewardeddyheatflux.Incontrast,athighfrequency,polewardheatfluxanomalies are associated with eddy momentum divergence aloft and both eddy forcings have same-sign contributions to the upper-level eddy potential vorticity (PV) flux. In this limit the eddy PV flux is associated with wave activity transience as effective diffusivity is too small to dissipate the wave‐mean flow interaction term. The large correlation between barotropic and baroclinic anomalies implies that the low-frequency variability of barotropic flow may be affected by thermal damping when this damping is sufficiently strong. For example, zonal index persistence drops drastically in our model when baroclinicity shifts are prevented by strong thermal restoration.
Microfracture in Football (Soccer) Players

Background: Little information is available on the results of microfracture in competitive football (soccer) players. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this technique to restore joint function to a level that allows return to this popular high-impact sport. Methods: This article provides an overview of the basic science and the current published scientific evidence for articular cartilage repair using the microfracture technique in elite football (soccer) athletes. In addition, the senior author documents his results in a case series of professional football (soccer) players treated with microfracture. Results: Twenty-one professional male soccer players underwent microfracture for knee articular cartilage defects. Nineteen players had isolated cartilage injuries, and 2 players had simultaneous anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Average age of the player was 27 years (range, 18-32 years). Twelve players (57%) had single defects, and 9 (43%) had multiple defects. All players complied with the postoperative rehabilitation program. Twenty players (95%) returned to professional soccer the season following microfracture surgery and continued to play for an average of 5 years (range, 1-13 years). Years of continued play inversely correlated with player age at the time of microfracture (r = -0.41). Conclusion: Articular cartilage repair with the microfracture technique followed by appropriate rehabilitation provides restoration of knee joint function in professional football (soccer) players with a high rate of return to football (soccer) and continued participation under the significant demands of professional football (soccer). Thorough understanding of the technical aspects, rehabilitation, and literature can help to optimize the results of microfracture in the athletic population.
Realism in assessment of effort estimation uncertainty: it matters how you ask

Traditionally, software professionals are requested to provide minimum-maximum intervals to indicate the uncertainty of their effort estimates. We claim that the traditional request is not optimal and leads to overoptimistic views about the level of estimation uncertainty. Instead, we propose that it is better to frame the request for uncertainty assessment: "How likely is it that the actual effort will be more than/less than X? " Our claim is based on the results of a previously reported-experiment and field studies in two companies. The two software companies were instructed to apply the traditional and our alternative framing on random samples of their projects. In total, we collected information about 47 projects applying the traditional-framing and 23 projects applying the alternative framing.
Model Rocket Workshop: A Project-Based Learning Experience for Engineering Students

A Project-Based Learning (PBL) experience for undergraduate students of aerospace engineering is described in this paper. The experience allows the students to build a model rocket using materials which can be easily obtained. They also compute all the relevant quantities to design and characterize the rocket and they test the robustness of their design. They furthermore launch the rocket with the corresponding payload and verify the flight parameters using an on-board altimeter. Finally, they also compare the flight parameters with the theoretically expected values. Using this simple scheme the students are later introduced in the simulation of complex flows, using standard techniques. We find that our students get rapidly involved in the project, allowing them to acquire several practical abilities, besides developing an accurate knowledge of the physics of rockets and of fluid dynamics.
Selection of genetic variants of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in spleens of persistently infected mice. Role in suppression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte response and viral persistence

We studied the mechanism of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) persistence and the suppression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in BALB/c WEHI mice infected at birth with LCMV Armstrong strain. Using adoptive transfer experiments we found that spleen cells from persistently infected (carrier) mice actively suppressed the expected LCMV-specific CTL response of spleen cells from normal adult mice. The suppression was specific for the CTL response and LCMV - specific antibody responses were not affected. Associated with the specific CTL suppression was the establishment of persistent LCMV infection. The transfer of spleen or lymph node cells containing LCMV - specific CTL resulted in virus clearance and prevented establishment of the carrier state. The suppression of LCMV -specific CTL responses by carrier spleen cells is not mediated by a suppressor cell, but is due to the presence of genetic variants of LCMV in spleens of carrier mice. Such virus variants selectively suppress LCMV-specific CTL responses and cause persistent infections in immunocompetent mice. In striking contrast, wild-type LCMV Armstrong, from which these variants were generated, induces a potent CTL response in immunocompetent mice and the LCMV infection is rapidly cleared. Our results show that LCMV variants that emerge during infection in vivo play a crucial role in the suppression of virus-specific CTL responses and in the maintenance of virus persistence.
Scheduling analysis of broadcasting real-time data based on prediction scheme over wireless multi-channels

With the rapid progress of wireless technology, mobile users can retrieve multiple real-time data with portable devices from mobile service centers. Providing deadline guarantees for queries over mobile environments is a challenging problem due to real-time data arrival rates and time-varying data contents. In this paper, we propose a prediction-based scheme for periodic continuous queries over wireless multi-channels. It is an important issue to effectively disseminate various materials in mobile environments. This paper highlights important problems that have mobile real-time systems from improving the system performance it could be for periodic continuous queries. While current systems aim to foster significant improvements in access latency, this paper argues that most systems are still limited to just being online material without performance concerns. Mobile real-time infrastructure has become a topic for research. A performance-driven model to mobile real-time delivery is proposed in this paper. A novel methodology for deploying periodic continuous queries based on prediction mechanism in mobile environments is presented. We focus on describing the dynamic processing in terms of performance, rather than the details of its implementation.
Predicting germination response to temperature. II. Three-dimensional regression, statistical gridding and iterative-probit optimization using measured and interpolated-subpopulation data.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Most current thermal-germination models are parameterized with subpopulation-specific rate data, interpolated from cumulative-germination-response curves. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative accuracy of three-dimensional models for predicting cumulative germination response to temperature. Three-dimensional models are relatively more efficient to implement than two-dimensional models and can be parameterized directly with measured data. METHODS Seeds of four rangeland grass species were germinated over the constant-temperature range of 3 to 38 degrees C and monitored for subpopulation variability in germination-rate response. Models for estimating subpopulation germination rate were generated as a function of temperature using three-dimensional regression, statistical gridding and iterative-probit optimization using both measured and interpolated-subpopulation data as model inputs. KEY RESULTS Statistical gridding is more accurate than three-dimensional regression and iterative-probit optimization for modelling germination rate and germination time as a function of temperature and subpopulation. Optimization of the iterative-probit model lowers base-temperature estimates, relative to two-dimensional cardinal-temperature models, and results in an inability to resolve optimal-temperature coefficients as a function of subpopulation. Residual model error for the three-dimensional model was extremely high when parameterized with measured-subpopulation data. Use of measured data for model evaluation provided a more realistic estimate of predictive error than did evaluation of the larger set of interpolated-subpopulation data. CONCLUSIONS Statistical-gridding techniques may provide a relatively efficient method for estimating germination response in situations where the primary objective is to estimate germination time. This methodology allows for direct use of germination data for model parameterization and automates the significant computational requirements of a two-dimensional piece-wise-linear model, previously shown to produce the most accurate estimates of germination time.
Interpolating Surfaces in ArcGIS Spatial

Editor s̓ note: In addition to supplying tools for spatial analysis (i.e., for modeling suitability, distance, or hydrology), the ArcGIS 9 Spatial Analyst extension provides tools for spatial data analysis that apply statistical theory and techniques to the modeling of spatially referenced data. Elevation, temperature, and contamination concentrations are types of data that can be represented by surfaces. Each raster cell represents a measurement such as a cell s̓ relationship to a fixed point or specific concentration level. Because obtaining values for each cell in a raster is typically not practical, sample points are used to derive the intervening values using the interpolation tools in ArcGIS Spatial Analyst. This article provides an introduction to the interpolation methods used by these tools. GIS is all about spatial data and the tools for managing, compiling, and analyzing that data. ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension provides a toolset for analyzing and modeling spatial data. A set of sample points representing changes in landscape, population, or environment can be used to visualize the continuity and variability of observed data across a surface through the use of interpolation tools. These changes can be extrapolated across geographic space. The morphology and characteristics of these changes can be described. The ability to create surfaces from sample data makes interpolation both powerful and useful.
Stacked Denoising Autoencoders: Learning Useful Representations in a Deep Network with a Local Denoising Criterion

We explore an original strategy for building deep networks, based on stacking layers of denoising autoencoders which are trained locally to denoise corrupted versions of their inputs. The resulting algorithm is a straightforward variation on the stacking of ordinary autoencoders. It is however shown on a benchmark of classification problems to yield significantly lower classification error, thus bridging the performance gap with deep belief networks (DBN), and in several cases surpassing it. Higher level representations learnt in this purely unsupervised fashion also help boost the performance of subsequent SVM classifiers. Qualitative experiments show that, contrary to ordinary autoencoders, denoising autoencoders are able to learn Gabor-like edge detectors from natural image patches and larger stroke detectors from digit images. This work clearly establishes the value of using a denoising criterion as a tractable unsupervised objective to guide the learning of useful higher level representations.