Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human twinning is not linked to the region of chromosome 4 syntenic with the sheep twinning gene FecB.

The tendency to dizygotic (DZ) twinning is inherited in both humans and sheep, and a fecundity gene in sheep (FecB) maps to sheep chromosome 6, syntenic with human 4q21-25. Our aim was to see whether a gene predisposing to human DZ twinning mapped to this region. DNA was collected from 169 pairs and 17 sets of 3 sisters (trios) from Australia and New Zealand who had each had spontaneous DZ twins, mostly before the age of 35, and from a replication sample of 111 families (92 affected sister pairs) from The Netherlands. Exclusion mapping was carried out after typing 26 markers on chromosome 4, of which 8 spanned the region likely to contain the human homologue of the sheep FecB gene. We used nonparametric affected sib pair methods for linkage analysis [ASPEX 2.2, Hinds and Risch, 1999]. Complete exclusion of linkage (lod < -2) of a gene conferring a relative risk for sibs as low as 1.5 (lambda(s) > 1.5) was obtained for all but the p terminus region on chromosome 4. Exclusion in the syntenic region was stronger, down to lambda(s) = 1.3. We concluded that if there is a gene influencing DZ twinning on chromosome 4, its effect must be minor.
The Impact of Voting on Tax Payments

This study examines whether participating in governmental decisions influences taxpayers' cooperation. The results of experiment 1 show that participants tend to contribute more when they can vote on different rules for a public good game. Experiment 2 reveals that tax payments are lowest in a tax simulation when participants benefit from tax payments and can not vote. However, when the participants did not benefit from tax payments, voting had no impact and cooperation was about the same as when participants benefited and could vote. Furthermore, voting increases procedural fairness and trust mediates the effect of procedural fairness on tax payments.
Shaping of IPSCs by Endogenous Calcineurin Activity

Synaptic inhibition, mediated by GABAA receptors, regulates neuronal firing, influences coincidence detection (König et al., 1996), and can synchronize the output of neural circuits (Cobb et al., 1995). Although GABAA receptors can be modulated by phosphorylation, few studies have directly addressed the role of such modulation at synapses, where the nonequilibrium conditions of receptor activation are quite different from those often used to study GABAA receptors in vitro. Here we promoted endogenous phosphorylation by inhibiting specific phosphatases in rat hippocampal neurons and compared the effects on IPSCs with GABAA channel responses in outside-out patches. Brief and saturating GABA pulses (5 msec; 10 mm) activated patch currents resembling the IPSC. Inhibition of calcineurin (protein phosphatase 2B), but not phosphatases 1 or 2A, produced a similar shortening of IPSC and patch responses, as did nonspecific inhibition of dephosphorylation using ATPγS or high concentrations of intracellular phosphate. Calcineurin inhibition increased the microscopic ligand unbinding rate, which was measured using the competitive antagonist 2-(3-carboxypropyl)-3-amino-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)pyridazinium bromide, suggesting that the IPSC shortening was partly caused by destabilization of the ligand binding site. Calcineurin inhibition also increased the rate and extent of macroscopic receptor desensitization. These results show that endogenous regulation by kinases and calcineurin can produce substantial changes in the IPSC duration by altering the unbinding and gating kinetics of the GABAAreceptor. Dynamic regulation of synaptic inhibition may thus allow for the tuning of circuit behavior at the level of individual inhibitory synapses.
Robust tools for weighted Chebyshev approximation and applications to digital filter design. (Outils robustes pour l'approximation de Chebyshev pondérée et applications à la synthèse de filtres numériques)

The field of signal processing methods and applications frequentlyrelies on powerful results from numerical approximation. One suchexample, at the core of this thesis, is the use of Chebyshev approximationmethods for designing digital filters.In practice, the finite nature of numerical representations adds an extralayer of difficulty to the design problems we wish to address using digitalfilters (audio and image processing being two domains which rely heavilyon filtering operations). Most of the current mainstream tools for thisjob are neither optimized, nor do they provide certificates of correctness.We wish to change this, with some of the groundwork being laid by thepresent work.The first part of the thesis deals with the study and development ofRemez/Parks-McClellan-type methods for solving weighted polynomialapproximation problems in floating-point arithmetic. They are veryscalable and numerically accurate in addressing finite impulse response(FIR) design problems. However, in embedded and power hungry settings,the format of the filter coefficients uses a small number of bits andother methods are needed. We propose a (quasi-)optimal approach basedon the LLL algorithm which is more tractable than exact approaches.We then proceed to integrate these aforementioned tools in a softwarestack for FIR filter synthesis on FPGA targets. The results obtainedare both resource consumption efficient and possess guaranteed accuracyproperties. In the end, we present an ongoing study on Remez-type algorithmsfor rational approximation problems (which can be used for infinite impulseresponse (IIR) filter design) and the difficulties hindering their robustness.
Learning from neural control of general Brunovsky systems

In this paper, we investigate deterministic learning from adaptive neural control of general Brunovsky systems, in which the affine terms are unknown functions of system states. We firstly present an extension of a recent result on stability analysis of linear time varying (LTV) systems. We then analyze the difficulties caused by the unknown affine term in deterministic learning for general Brunovsky systems. By taking a state transformation, the closed-loop control system is transformed into a LTV form for which exponential stability can be guaranteed when the PE condition is satisfied. Consequently, locally-accurate approximation of the closed-loop control system dynamics can be achieved along a periodic orbit of closed-loop signals. Simulation studies are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach
Voice driven applications in non-stationary and chaotic environment

Automated operations based on voice commands would become more and more important in many applications, including robotics, maintenance operations, etc. However, voice command recognition rates drop quite a lot under nonstationary and chaotic noise environments. In this research, we tried to significantly improve the speech recognition rates under non-stationary noise environments. First, 298 Navy acronyms have been selected for automatic speech recognition. Data sets were collected under 4 types of non-stationary noisy environments: factory, buccaneer jet, babble noise in a canteen, and destroyer. Within each noisy environment, 4 levels (5 dB, 15 dB, 25 dB, and clean) of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were introduced to corrupt the speech. Second, a new algorithm to estimate speech or no speech regions has been developed, implemented, and evaluated. Third, extensive simulations were carried out. It was found that the combination of the new algorithm, the proper selection of language model and a customized training of the speech recognizer based on clean speech yielded very high recognition rates, which are from 80% to 90% for the four different noisy conditions. Fourth, extensive comparative studies have also been carried out
Post-photoreceptoral activity dominates primate photopic 32-Hz ERG for sine-, square-, and pulsed stimuli.

PURPOSE To evaluate the relative contributions of photoreceptors and postphotoreceptoral activity to the primate 32-Hz flicker electroretinogram (ERG) elicited by sine-wave, square-wave, and pulse stimuli. METHODS Flicker 32-Hz ERGs were evoked from four adult rhesus (Macaca mulatta) monkeys using sine-wave, square-wave, and 4-ms pulse trains and xenon photostrobe flicker stimuli. All stimuli had time-averaged luminance of 2.11 log cd/m(2) and were presented on a 1.63-log cd/m(2) white background. Intravitreal injections of DL-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (APB) and cis-2,3-piperidinedicarboxylic acid (PDA) were given to block activity of ON- and OFF-bipolar cells, respectively. RESULTS Flicker harmonic analysis showed that the fundamental frequency component provided nearly 75% of the sine-wave and square-wave ERGs versus 63% for 4-ms pulse stimuli and only 49% for strobe flicker. Strobe-flicker responses contained the greatest contribution from higher harmonic components. Removing the ON component with APB increased the fundamental component's amplitudes by more than 30% with sine-wave and square-wave ERGs but had a lesser effect on responses to 4-ms pulses and strobe flicker. When cone responses were isolated by synaptic blockade with APB+PDA, the fundamental component's amplitude was reduced to less than 20% of control for all four stimuli. Postsynaptic ON and OFF components were characterized by amplitude and phase vectors, and sine-wave and square-wave stimuli gave a large phase difference (138 degrees ) between ON and OFF components, which resulted in greater response self-cancellation than with the 4-ms pulse train (121 degrees phase difference) or for strobe flicker (118 degrees ). CONCLUSIONS The major decrease in flicker responses after photoreceptor synaptic blockade implicates a major contribution from postphotoreceptoral activity to the fundamental flicker component, regardless of the stimulus type. Sine-wave and square-wave stimuli produced larger phase differences between ON- and OFF-pathway components, thereby causing more complete self-cancellation of postphotoreceptoral contributions and revealing slightly greater relative contribution directly from cone photoreceptors with these stimuli than with pulsed stimuli. The direct cone contribution was always small, however, and the clinical point is that 32-Hz flicker ERG amplitudes do not provide an unambiguous assessment of direct cone photoreceptor contribution with any of these stimuli.
Meta-Analysis of Storm Water Impacts in Urbanized Cities Including Runoff Control and Mitigation Strategies

The rate of urbanization has been impacted by global economic growth. A strong economy results in more people moving to already crowded urban centers to take advantage of increased employment opportunities often resulting in sprawling of the urban area. More natural land resources are being exploited to accommodate these anthropogenic activities. Subsequently, numerous natural land resources such as green areas or porous soil, which are less flood-prone and more permeable are being converted into buildings, parking lots, roads and underground utilities that are less permeable to storm water runoff from rain events. With the diminishing of the natural landscape that can drain storm water during a rainfall event, urban underground drainage systems are being designed and built to tackle the excess runoff resulting from urbanization. However, the rapid pace of urbanization has profoundly affected the formation of urban runoff thus resulting in the existing underground drainage system being unable to handle current flow conditions. This paper discusses storm water impacts in urbanized areas globally by reviewing historical storm water events and mitigation strategies accompanied with runoff reduction performance that are considered simultaneously for the purpose of relieving the stress on underground drainage systems. It was found that the stormwater impact on ten selected typical urban areas were enormously destructive followed by billions of direct economy loss, fatalities, damaged properties and residents’ relocations. Furthermore, the meta-analysis of selected six runoff mitigation methods indicated that the average runoff reduction percent ranged from 43% to 61% under different rain events in various installed sites across different event years.
Regulation of expression of fibronectin and its receptor, α 5 β 1 , during development and regeneration of peripheral nerve

Summary The extracellular matrix glycoprotein, fibronectin, is a potent promoter of peripheral neurite outgrowth. Interactions of peripheral neurons with fibronectin have been shown to be primarily mediated by the β 1 class of integrin heterodimers. In the present study, we have examined the expression and regulation of fibronectin and its integrin receptor, α 5 β 1 , in developing and regenerating chick peripheral nerve. We show that fibronectin and α 5 β 1 are expressed at comparatively high levels in developing nerve with α 5 β 1 expression on axons and non-neuronal cells. With nerve maturation, both proteins are less prominently expressed and the cellular pattern of α 5 β 1 expression becomes more restricted. Following lesion of mature nerve, both fibronectin and α 5 β 1 are strongly induced with prominent expression of ( α 5 β 1 on regenerating neurites and Schwann cells. The elevation in fibronectin levels in the regenerating nerve is highest in the vicinity of the lesion, an area undergoing extensive cellular remodeling including Schwann cell migration and growth cone extension. Our results suggest that fibronectin and its receptor, α 5 β 1 , may mediate functionally important interactions in the development and regeneration of peripheral nerve.
Graded Neuronal Modulations Related to Visual Spatial Attention

Studies of visual attention in monkeys typically measure neuronal activity when the stimulus event to be detected occurs at a cued location versus when it occurs at an uncued location. But this approach does not address how neuronal activity changes relative to conditions where attention is unconstrained by cueing. Human psychophysical studies have used neutral cueing conditions and found that neutrally cued behavioral performance is generally intermediate to that of cued and uncued conditions (Posner et al., 1978; Mangun and Hillyard, 1990; Montagna et al., 2009). To determine whether the neuronal correlates of visual attention during neutral cueing are similarly intermediate, we trained macaque monkeys to detect changes in stimulus orientation that were more likely to occur at one location (cued) than another (uncued), or were equally likely to occur at either stimulus location (neutral). Consistent with human studies, performance was best when the location was cued, intermediate when both locations were neutrally cued, and worst when the location was uncued. Neuronal modulations in visual area V4 were also graded as a function of cue validity and behavioral performance. By recording from both hemispheres simultaneously, we investigated the possibility of switching attention between stimulus locations during neutral cueing. The results failed to support a unitary “spotlight” of attention. Overall, our findings indicate that attention-related changes in V4 are graded to accommodate task demands. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Studies of the neuronal correlates of attention in monkeys typically use visual cues to manipulate where attention is focused (“cued” vs “uncued”). Human psychophysical studies often also include neutrally cued trials to study how attention naturally varies between points of interest. But the neuronal correlates of this neutral condition are unclear. We measured behavioral performance and neuronal activity in cued, uncued, and neutrally cued blocks of trials. Behavioral performance and neuronal responses during neutral cueing were intermediate to those of the cued and uncued conditions. We found no signatures of a single mechanism of attention that switches between stimulus locations. Thus, attention-related changes in neuronal activity are largely hemisphere-specific and graded according to task demands.
Photographic guidance for selecting flow resistance coefficients in high-gradient channels

Photographic guidance is presented to assist with the estimation of Manning’s n and Darcy-Weisbach f in high-gradient plane-bed, step-pool, and cascade channels. Reaches both with and without instream wood are included. These coefficients are necessary for the estimation of reachaverage velocity, energy loss, and discharge. Using data collected in 19 stream channels located in the State of Colorado and the Eastern Italian Alps, on slopes ranging from 2.4 to 21 percent, guidance is provided for low through bankfull flows. Guidance for low flow resistance estimation is additionally provided using data collected in 29 channels in the State of Washington, New Zealand, Chile, and Argentina. Bankfull n values range from 0.048 to 0.30 and low flow n values range from 0.057 to 0.96. Discussions of flow resistance mechanisms and quantitative prediction tools are also presented.
Assessing Physicians’ Interpersonal Skills: Do Patients and Physicians See Eye-to-Eye?

Millis SR, Jain SS, Eyles M, Tulsky D, Nadler SF, Foye PM, Elovic E, DeLisa JA: Assessing physicians’ interpersonal skills: Do patients and physicians see eye-to-eye? Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2002;81:946–951. Objective To determine the level of agreement between standardized patient ratings and resident physician self-ratings of physician interpersonal skills and the level of agreement between faculty observer and standardized patient ratings of resident physicians’ interpersonal skills. Design Structured clinical evaluation. A total of 25 resident physicians in physical medicine and rehabilitation conducted a 10-min interview of a standardized patient to obtain a history. A resident physician, a standardized patient, and a faculty observer rated the resident physician’s interpersonal skills immediately after the interview. The main outcome measure was a modification of the patient assessment measure from the American Board of Internal Medicine, a 9-item rating scale assessing communication (score range, 9–45). Results There was a low level of agreement between standardized patient ratings and the resident physicians’ self-ratings of interpersonal skills (Lin’s concordance coefficient, rc = 0.11, P = 0.58). Conversely, there was a statistically significant degree of agreement between the standardized patient and faculty observer ratings of resident physician interpersonal skills (rc = 0.50, P = 0.006). Conclusions Some resident physicians have significant difficulty accurately assessing how well they communicate with patients. Physicians in training rarely get feedback regarding their interpersonal skills and may have difficulty using social comparison. Conversely, standardized patients and faculty observers may have insight into interpersonal skills about which resident physicians are unaware.
Crustal Shear Wave Velocity Structure of Central Idaho and Eastern Oregon From Ambient Seismic Noise: Results From the IDOR Project

We developed 3‐D isotropic crustal seismic velocity models of central Idaho and eastern Oregon from the IDOR (western IDaho and eastern ORegon) Passive seismic data. Ambient noise tomography yielded crustal velocity structure from vertical component Rayleigh wave group and phase velocity measurements. Results include a strong shear wave velocity contrast—faster in accreted Blue Mountains terranes west of the western Idaho shear zone (WISZ), slower in the Idaho batholith, emplaced within the Archean Grouse Creek block east of the WISZ—restricted to the upper‐to‐middle crust. In deeper crust not affected by mafic underplating during Columbia River Flood Basalt magmatism, the shear wave velocity of the Mesozoic Olds Ferry continental arc terrane is indistinguishable from that of the Archean Grouse Creek block basement. Crustal columns of the Olds Ferry terrane and the Permian‐Jurassic Wallowa intraoceanic arc terrane are characterized by low seismic velocities, consistent with felsic lithologies down to ∼20 km. West of the WISZ, the Bourne and Greenhorn subterranes of the Baker terrane, an accretionary complex between the arc terranes, have distinct shallow crustal seismic velocities. The Greenhorn subterrane to midcrustal depths is in an overthrust geometry relative to the Bourne subterrane. Lack of mafic lower crust in our results of the Wallowa or Olds Ferry arcs may be due to imbrication of upper crustal felsic plutonic complexes of these arcs. Shortening and thickening of the Blue Mountains arc terranes crust to >30 km, and subduction or delamination of their mafic lower crustal sections is a viable mechanism for growth of a felsic continental crust.
Characteristic classes for Riemannian foliations

The purpose of this paper is to both survey and offer some new results on the non-triviality of the characteristic classes of Riemannian foliations. We give examples where the primary Pontrjagin classes are all linearly independent. The independence of the secondary classes is also discussed, along with their total variation. Finally, we give a negative solution of a conjecture that the map of classifying spaces $\FRGq \to \FGq$ is trivial for codimension $q > 1$.
Haplotype analysis revealed no association between the PTPN22 gene and RA in a Japanese population.

OBJECTIVE The protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) gene is a member of the PTPs that negatively regulate T-cell activation. A missense single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the PTPN22 gene known as R620W was recently reported to be associated with several autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The association was confirmed repeatedly in the populations of North European ancestry. However, the SNP was reported to be non-polymorphic in the Asian populations. Because the gene confers an impact on autoimmune diseases, we attempt to explore an association between PTPN22 gene and RA in a Japanese population without restricting to the SNP, R620W. METHODS We studied 1128 RA patients and 455 controls. In addition to the SNP, R620W, we selected eight testing SNPs spanning 45 kb over the PTPN22 gene using the International HapMap Project. Genotyping was performed using the TaqMan fluorogenic 5' nuclease assay. Associations between RA and each of the SNPs were estimated by the Fisher's exact test. Haplotype was constructed using the expectation-maximization algorithm. RESULTS R620W was not polymorphic enough in both the patients and the controls, and was therefore excluded from further analysis. Each allele frequency for the eight other SNPs in both groups was compared and no association was detected. Haplotype analysis also revealed that PTPN22 gene was not associated with RA in a Japanese population. CONCLUSION We found no association between PTPN22 and RA in a Japanese population. The result suggests that the PTPN22 gene is associated with RA only in a specific ethnic group.