Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Individual dispersal, landscape connectivity and ecological networks

Connectivity is classically considered an emergent property of landscapes encapsulating individuals' flows across space. However, its operational use requires a precise understanding of why and how organisms disperse. Such movements, and hence landscape connectivity, will obviously vary according to both organism properties and landscape features. We review whether landscape connectivity estimates could gain in both precision and generality by incorporating three fundamental outcomes of dispersal theory. Firstly, dispersal is a multi‐causal process; its restriction to an ‘escape reaction’ to environmental unsuitability is an oversimplification, as dispersing individuals can leave excellent quality habitat patches or stay in poor‐quality habitats according to the relative costs and benefits of dispersal and philopatry. Secondly, species, populations and individuals do not always react similarly to those cues that trigger dispersal, which sometimes results in contrasting dispersal strategies. Finally, dispersal is a major component of fitness and is thus under strong selective pressures, which could generate rapid adaptations of dispersal strategies. Such evolutionary responses will entail spatiotemporal variation in landscape connectivity. We thus strongly recommend the use of genetic tools to: (i) assess gene flow intensity and direction among populations in a given landscape; and (ii) accurately estimate landscape features impacting gene flow, and hence landscape connectivity. Such approaches will provide the basic data for planning corridors or stepping stones aiming at (re)connecting local populations of a given species in a given landscape. This strategy is clearly species‐ and landscape‐specific. But we suggest that the ecological network in a given landscape could be designed by stacking up such linkages designed for several species living in different ecosystems. This procedure relies on the use of umbrella species that are representative of other species living in the same ecosystem.
Long-term monitoring and analyses of physical factors regulating variability in coastal Antarctic phytoplankton biomass, in situ productivity and taxonomic composition over subseasonal, seasonal and interannual time scales

A 3 yr high-resolution temporal data base related to phytoplankton dynamics was collected during the austral spring/summer periods of 1991 to 1994 in shelf waters adjacent to Palmer Station, Antarctica. Here, the data base is used the variability in phytoplankton biomass, productivity and taxonomic composition over seasonal and interannual time scales; (2) to elucidate environmental mechanisms controlling these temporal patterns; and (3) to ascertain which phytoplankton markers are most suitable for detecting longer-term (i.e. decadal) trends in ton dynamics in coastal waters of the Southern Ocean. The Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) coastal study sites showed high interannual variability in peak phytoplankton biomass to 494 mg a and integrated primary production (1.08 to 6.58 g C Seasonal and annual patterns in biomass and productivity were shown to be driven by shorter-time-scale physical forcing by local wind stress. Low daily wind speeds 10 m were associated with water-column stabilization. However, extended periods wk) of low wind stress were required for increased phytoplankton growth and biomass accumulation. Temperature data supports the view that water masses can be replaced on time scales of a less than a day to a few days in these coastal waters. Such disruptions are associated with abrupt changes in local primary production and may lead to sudden shifts in local phytoplankton community structure. Despite the high seasonal and interannual variability in biomass and associated productivity in this coastal environment, the replacement sequence of one dominant phytoplankton group by another was very similar on subseasonal time scales for all 3 years. We suggest that changes in phytoplankton successional patterns may be a more sensitive marker for detecting long-term trends in Southern Ocean ecosystems than either biomass or productivity indices, where short-term variability of the latter is as great or greater than interannual variations documented to date.
Removal of high frequency noise from ECG signal using digital IIR butterworth filter

ECG is the main tool used by the physicians for identifying and for interpretation of Heart condition. The ECG should be free from noise and of good quality for the correct diagnosis. In real time situations ECG are corrupted by many types of artifacts. The high frequency noise is one of them. The present paper deals with removing of noise from ECG of high frequency contents with help of Low pass digital filter of the cutoff frequency 100Hz. The sampling period used is . 001sec. The filter is designed with Butterworth Approximations. The results of before filtration and after filtration are depicted in the paper. Paper contains detail design of the digital Butterworth filter and its realization. The experimentation is performed on the database generated in Laboratory. The simulation results show the filter works satisfactorily with some modifications in PQRST waveform.
Elucidating Sensorimotor Control Principles with Myoelectric Musculoskeletal Models

There is an old saying that you must walk a mile in someone's shoes to truly understand them. This mini-review will synthesize and discuss recent research that attempts to make humans “walk a mile” in an artificial musculoskeletal system to gain insight into the principles governing human movement control. In this approach, electromyography (EMG) is used to sample human motor commands; these commands serve as inputs to mathematical models of muscular dynamics, which in turn act on a model of skeletal dynamics to produce a simulated motor action in real-time (i.e., the model's state is updated fast enough produce smooth motion without noticeable transitions; Manal et al., 2002). In this mini-review, these are termed myoelectric musculoskeletal models (MMMs). After a brief overview of typical MMM design and operation principles, the review will highlight how MMMs have been used for understanding human sensorimotor control and learning by evoking apparent alterations in a user's biomechanics, neural control, and sensory feedback experiences.
Vysis® UroVysion for the detection of urothelial carcinoma

For decades, cystoscopy and urine cytology have been the mainstay for monitoring superficial urothelial carcinoma patients for tumor recurrence. However, urine cytology has poor sensitivity for urothelial carcinoma and, consequently, numerous investigators have been endeavoring to develop more sensitive assays for the detection of urothelial carcinoma. This article presents an overview of the types of new assays that have been developed for urothelial carcinoma detection but focuses primarily on the features and performance of a new fluorescence in situ hybridization assay for urothelial carcinoma detection known as Vysis® UroVysion.
ß1 Integrin Binding Phosphorylates Ezrin at T567 to Activate a Lipid Raft Signalsome Driving Invadopodia Activity and Invasion

Extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation is a critical process in tumor cell invasion and requires matrix degrading protrusions called invadopodia. The Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE1) has recently been shown to be fundamental in the regulation of invadopodia actin cytoskeleton dynamics and activity. However, the structural link between the invadopodia cytoskeleton and NHE1 is still unknown. A candidate could be ezrin, a linker between the NHE1 and the actin cytoskeleton known to play a pivotal role in invasion and metastasis. However, the mechanistic basis for its role remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that ezrin phosphorylated at T567 is highly overexpressed in the membrane of human breast tumors and positively associated with invasive growth and HER2 overexpression. Further, in the metastatic cell line, MDA-MB-231, p-ezrin was almost exclusively expressed in invadopodia lipid rafts where it co-localized in a functional complex with NHE1, EGFR, ß1-integrin and phosphorylated-NHERF1. Manipulation by mutation of ezrins T567 phosphorylation state and/or PIP2 binding capacity or of NHE1s binding to ezrin or PIP2 demonstrated that p-ezrin expression and binding to PIP2 are required for invadopodia-mediated ECM degradation and invasion and identified NHE1 as the membrane protein that p-ezrin regulates to induce invadopodia formation and activity.
Metabolism of the Marine Phycotoxin PTX-2 and Its Effects on Hepatic Xenobiotic Metabolism: Activation of Nuclear Receptors and Modulation of the Phase I Cytochrome P450

PTX-2 is a marine biotoxin frequently found in shellfish that can lead to food intoxication in humans. Information regarding PTX-2 metabolism is scarce, and little is known of its effect on xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (XME) or its molecular pathways. The aim of this study was consequently to examine PTX-2 Phase I metabolism using rat and human liver S9 fractions, and also to assess the capability of PTX-2: (i) to modulate the gene expression of a panel of Phase I (CYP450) and II (UGT, SULT, NAT, and GST) enzymes, as well as the Phase III or 0 (ABC and SLCO) transporters in the human hepatic HepaRG cell line using qPCR; (ii) to induce specific CYP450 in HepaRG cells measured by immunolabeling detection and the measurement of the cells’ activities; and (iii) to activate nuclear receptors and induce CYP promoter activities in HEK-T and HepG2 transfected cell lines using transactivation and reporter gene assay, respectively. Our results indicate that PTX-2 hydroxylation occurred with both rat and human S9 fractions. Whereas PTX-2 mostly upregulated the gene expression of CYP1A1 and 1A2, no induction of these two CYP activities was observed. Lastly, PTX-2 did not act as an agonist of CAR or PXR. Due to its effects on some key XME, more attention should be paid to possible drug–drug interactions with phycotoxins, especially as shellfish can accumulate several phycotoxins as well as other kinds of contaminants.
Contrasting patterns of nest survival and postfledging survival in Ovenbirds and Acadian Flycatchers in Missouri forest fragments

ABSTRACT We can improve our ability to assess population viability and forecast population growth under different scenarios by understanding factors that limit population parameters in each stage of the annual cycle. Postfledging mortality rates may be as variable as nest survival across regions and fragmentation gradients, although factors that negatively impact nest survival may affect postfledging individuals in different ways. We examined nest and postfledging survival of Ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla) and Acadian Flycatchers (Empidonax virescens) in mature forest fragments in central Missouri. We used an information-theoretic approach to determine support for effects of factors intrinsic to the individual or nest site, temporal factors, local vegetation characteristics, and distance to edge on survival in both stages. We also examined the effect of incorporating the resulting survival estimates on population growth. In both species, survival increased from nest to postfledging stages (Ovenbirds: 0.27 ± 0.06 to 0.50 ± 0.09; Acadian Flycatcher 0.30 ± 0.03 to 0.89 ± 0.11). Age was by far the best predictor of survival in postfledging birds, with the majority of mortalities occurring in the first week out of the nest. We did not find support for survival tradeoffs of habitat used by nesting or postfledging birds. Acadian Flycatcher nest and postfledging survival were both related to variables associated with mature forest. Ovenbird nest survival was most affected by habitat characteristics associated with core mature forest, although postfledging survival may have improved near non-forest edges. We replaced an arbitrary estimate of juvenile survival (half of adult survival) with an estimate incorporating empirical postfledging survival estimates. With these revised parameters, Acadian Flycatcher population growth was more affected (13–26% increase in lambda) than Ovenbird population growth (3–6% change). Our results illustrate that species occupying similar nesting habitat do not necessarily face the same risks during the postfledging period.
Evaluating Performance of Software Architecture Models with the Palladio Component Model

Techniques from model-driven software development are useful to analyse the performance of a software architecture during early development stages. Design models of software models can be transformed into analytical or simulation models, which enable analyzing the response times, throughput, and resource utilization of a system before starting the implementation. This chapter provides an overview of the Palladio Component Model (PCM), a special modeling language targeted at model-driven performance predictions. The PCM is accompanied by several model transformations, which derive stochastic regular expressions, queuing network models, or Java source code from a software design model. Software architects can use the results of the analytical models to evaluate the feasibility of performance requirements, identify performance bottlenecks, and support architectural design decisions quantitatively. The chapter provides a case study with a component-based software architecture to illustrate the performance prediction process. Koziolek, Happe, Becker, Reussner, Palladio Component Model 2
Multimodal biometric authentication using quality signals in mobile communications

The elements of multimodal authentication along with system models are presented. These include the machine experts as well as machine supervisors. In particular, fingerprint and speech based systems serve as illustration of a mobile authentication application. A novel signal adaptive supervisor, based on the input biometric signal quality, is evaluated. Experimental results on data collected from mobile telephones are reported; they demonstrate the benefits of the proposed scheme.
Core principles of assessment in competency-based medical education

Abstract The meaningful assessment of competence is critical for the implementation of effective competency-based medical education (CBME). Timely ongoing assessments are needed along with comprehensive periodic reviews to ensure that trainees continue to progress. New approaches are needed to optimize the use of multiple assessors and assessments; to synthesize the data collected from multiple assessors and multiple types of assessments; to develop faculty competence in assessment; and to ensure that relationships between the givers and receivers of feedback are appropriate. This paper describes the core principles of assessment for learning and assessment of learning. It addresses several ways to ensure the effectiveness of assessment programs, including using the right combination of assessment methods and conducting careful assessor selection and training. It provides a reconceptualization of the role of psychometrics and articulates the importance of a group process in determining trainees’ progress. In addition, it notes that, to reach its potential as a driver in trainee development, quality care, and patient safety, CBME requires effective information management and documentation as well as ongoing consideration of ways to improve the assessment system.
Organization of ETRAMPs and EXP‐1 at the parasite–host cell interface of malaria parasites

The parasite–host cell interface is a key compartment of vacuolated intracellular pathogens but little is known about its molecular composition and architecture. We used in vivo cross‐linking to analyse the parasite–host cell interface of asexual stages of the most virulent human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. We show that the integral membrane protein members of the early transcribed membrane protein (ETRAMP) family and exported protein 1 (EXP‐1), which are components of the parasite–host cell interface, form complexes of oligomeric arrays in this compartment. The most notable feature is that each ETRAMP member and EXP‐1 define separate arrays, demonstrating that the protein distribution in this membrane is non‐random. Each of three recombinant ETRAMPs readily oligomerized in bacterial membranes, confirming that these arrays can form independently of other Plasmodium proteins. We propose that the malaria parasite–host cell interface contains patches of integral membrane proteins forming a mosaic of different microdomains in this membrane.
Collaboration and E-Collaboration: A Study of Factors that Influence Perceived Students' Group Performance

Understanding student's perception of collaboration and how collaboration is supported by ICT is important for its efficient use in the classroom. This article aims to investigate how students perceive collaboration and how they use new technologies in collaborative group work. Furthermore, it tries to measure the impact of technology on students' satisfaction with collaboration outcomes. In particular, the study aims to address the following research questions: Which demographic information (e.g. Gender and place of origin) is significant for collaboration and e-collaboration? and Which are the perceived factors that influence the students' group performance? The findings of this study emphasize that there are gender and cultural differences with respect to the perception of e-collaboration. Furthermore, the article summarizes in a model the most significant factors influencing group performance.
Study on the aging characteristics of insulators sheds

As composite insulators have been widely used in power system, the aging of composite insulator has become a threat to safe operation of transmission line. In order to investigate the influence of several aging factors on the sheds of high temperature vulcanized silicone rubber composite insulator, nine pieces of energized sheds on the high voltage end serviced on 500kV transmission lines have been selected as test samples. The salt deposit density (ESDD) and non-soluble deposit density (NSDD) measurements are adopted to measure the contamination accumulation characteristics of composite insulator sheds. In addition, thermally stimulated current (TSC) and hydrophobicity tests are also carried out on the shed samples. It indicates that TSC characteristics have the same tendency with the change of the contamination accumulation characteristics in both sides of one shed, but different from that of hydrophobicity. Combining with the contamination accumulation characteristics, hydrophobicity and TSC characteristics, a conclusion can be drawn that the contamination accumulation and ultraviolet radiation might be the main causes of aging, which are account for the difference of the aging characteristic between the two sides of one shed.
Modes of myocardial cell injury and cell death in ischemic heart disease.

The manifestations and mechanisms of myocardial cell injury and cell death in response to impaired coronary perfusion and thrombosis continue to be the collective subject of ongoing investigation because of intrinsic scientific interest and relevance for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease. An extensive body of evidence has documented the cellular and subcellular alterations that accompany the progressive reduction in high-energy ATP in response to oxygen and substrate deprivation affecting all cell types, including cardiac myocytes.1 2 3 The characteristic pattern of ischemic cell injury involves fluid and electrolyte alterations, with loss of K+ and Mg2+ and accumulation of water, Na+, Cl−, H+ (acidosis), and Ca2+; cytoplasmic, organellar, and cellular swelling with plasma membrane blebbing; and margination and clumping of nuclear chromatin. These cellular changes are due to progressive impairment of membrane composition, structure, and function.1 The transition from reversible to irreversible injury is characterized by the development of a severe membrane permeability defect that allows the unregulated influx of divalent and trivalent cations, including calcium.1 Subsequently, the swollen cells develop physical defects (holes) in their cell membranes and rupture. These features of cell injury with cell swelling have been shown to involve cardiac myocytes subjected to hypoxia in vitro and cardiac muscle during the evolution of myocardial infarction in vivo.1 3 Myocardium undergoing ischemic death ultimately exhibits some variant of coagulation necrosis and elicits an inflammatory response with an initial influx of neutrophils.3 The underlying membrane damage to ischemic myocytes is the basis for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction by pathology laboratory and nuclear cardiology methods. Recently, considerable attention has been directed to another form of cell death, referred to as apoptosis.1 2 Although apoptosis was initially characterized as a …
One year follow‐up of children and adolescents with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) treated with rituximab

We previously showed in a prospective study that rituximab appears to be effective in some children and adolescents with severe chronic immune thrombocytopenia. Eleven of 36 patients achieved and maintained platelet counts over 50,000/mm3 within the first 12 weeks. These patients were followed for the next year.
Theoretical isochrones compared to 2MASS observations: Open clusters at nearly solar metallicity

We study classical disk clusters at nearly solar metallicity with ages in the range 200 Myr - 6 Gyr using 2MASS pho- tometry and theoretical isochrones. As a first step we employ J, H and K Johnson's Padova isochrones which, on a large scale, result in a good fit of the observed data. However, we find some significant deviations, especially in the red giant branch for intermediate age clusters and the low-mass main-sequence end in general. Subsequently, isochrones involving the 2MASS J, H and KS transmission curves were generated which account for differences of ≈0.02 of the above deviations, in the sense re- quired by the 2MASS observations. However, these corrections are not enough to fully account for the observed differences. We suggest that the remaining deviations should be accounted for by model atmosphere limitations, particularly the lack of molec- ular opacity data in low-temperature giants. Future models will incorporate these updated data in order to produce isochrones suitable for the whole range of stellar masses.
Influence of the Microstructure of Ferrous Metals on the Rate of Microbial Corrosion

Abstract The effect of semi-continuous cultures of a hydrogenase-positive sulphate-reducing bacterium on the corrosion of specimens of cast iron and five different steels has been studied. In a minimal-iron nutrient medium there was a linear relationship between the weight loss of the steel specimens and their carbon contents. In an iron-rich medium the cast iron and steel specimens corroded at the same rate, whereas in the minimal-iron medium the cast iron corroded faster than the steel specimens.