Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spots before the eyes: revision of the saxicoline geckos of the Gehyra punctata (Squamata: Gekkonidae) species complex in the Pilbara region of Western Australia

The Gehyra punctata species complex in the Pilbara and surrounding regions of Western Australia has long been known for its confused taxonomy. Recent collections in the region have enabled a reassessment of specimens currently referable to G. punctata. We assessed populations genetically using newly generated mitochondrial DNA data in conjunction with recently published phylogenomic data and an unpublished allozyme analysis. In addition, we carried out a detailed morphological examination involving hundreds of specimens across this taxon’s range. Many possible candidate species were recovered from these analyses, and the re-examination of morphology indicated two major clades: one small-bodied and one large-bodied, each comprising multiple divergent lineages within them. A syntype of Peropus variegatus punctatus Fry, 1914, believed to have been lost at the time of Mitchell’s revision in 1965, was recently found in the Western Australian Museum collections, and is here designated as the lectotype of G. punctata sensu stricto. In addition to G. punctata from the Pilbara craton, the large-bodied clade comprises several species: G. macra sp. nov. – sister to G. punctata and confined to the northern Pilbara, and two more southerly distributed species, G. punctulata sp. nov. and G. polka sp. nov.; and a small-bodied species restricted to the south-western Pilbara region in the Hamersley Range, G. fenestrula sp. nov. Within the small-bodied clade a slightly larger-sized species is described as G. media sp. nov. For the other highly structured small-bodied lineage, one of the groups diverged morphologically and was recovered as the basal group in the phylogenomic data, despite being nested within the small-bodied lineage in the mitochondrial dataset. As this population is also geographically restricted to the Burrup Peninsula, we describe it as G. peninsularis sp. nov., based on the combined evidence. The remaining very small-bodied lineages we describe as G. micra sp. nov. The new species are diagnosable on the basis of morphology, colour and patterns of pale and dark spots. The revision of the G. punctata species complex adds seven new species to the western arid zone, and further establishes the Pilbara as the region with the highest gecko diversity and endemism in Australia.
Assembly of the AAA ATPase Vps4 on ESCRT-III

A complex network of interactions mediates the recruitment of Vps4 to ESCRT-III and its subsequent assembly, two key steps in the ESCRT-dependent vesicle formation at the endosome. A model is presented depicting the order of events that lead to active, ESCRT-III–associated Vps4.
Updating ontologies in the legal domain

This paper describes experimental research investigating automated techniques for creating legal ontologies from legislation and for merging existing ontologies with new ones when new laws are adopted. The first part of the paper describes how the ontologies are built, the second part how they are merged for updating the first one.Given a legal ontology, elaborated using certain methods and tools and dedicated to information retrieval, we explore the way to update it. We present important elements concerning the initial ontology: purposes, methods and tools. We describe the experimentation of the updating of a legal ontology.
WiFi Temporal Coverage: Analysis of Socio-Economics Influences in Malaysia

According to Internet Survey 2017, it was found that 89.4 percent of Internet users in Malaysia used a smartphone as a medium to access the internet. The proliferation of mobile devices and bandwidth hungry application, has resulted in mobile network provider (MNO) struggles to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for higher network capacity and wider network coverage. WiFi offloading seems the most viable solution due to the abundance and readily available infrastructure. Diverted traffic to the WiFi network may possibly reduce cellular network traffic, hence cellular network provider may be able to accommodate traffic growth at a lower cost. By analysing and understanding the user’s offloading behaviour may provide guidance in price and cost restructuring strategies or in network planning. This paper investigates temporal coverage of mobile user’s WiFi utilization and socio-economics influences through an extensive measurement study. The measurement study is carried out for 18 days and collected real data traces of user WiFi utilization on Android smartphone. The observation analysed user’s WiFi temporal coverage where participants are categorized into two different socio economics group. The finding reveals low WiFi temporal coverage for both groups of smartphones users. Group 1 spends more time using WiFi compared to Group 2, while both groups shows higher temporal coverage during active hour. Findings of this research may potentially serve as insights to the relevant stakeholder or regulatory body, as well as a barometer to carry out enhancement measures or any potential joint venture between cellular network provider and ISP.
Pseudolillia Maubeuge, 1949 (Ammonitida, Hildoceratidae) in the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) of the NE Spain

In the present paper, 147 specimens assigned to the genus Pseudolillia Maubeuge, 1949 are studied. This is a considerably high number of samples in comparison with those known in other geographical areas where they have been cited, such as northern France, the Pyrenees, the Betic Range, Morocco, Portugal, Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria. The six taxa described, P. murvillensis, P. hispanica, P. emiliana, P. donovani, Pseudolillia ? n. sp. (en Garcia-Gomez & Rivas, 1980), and Pseudolillia ? sp. , come from 22 sites in the Cantabrian and Iberian Ranges and the Isle of Majorca. Their presence in expanded sections enabled us to situate the stratigraphic position of the genus between the upper part of the Thouarsense Chronozone (Fallaciosum Subchronozone) to the Dispansum Chronozone (Gruneri Subchronozone), with maximum abundance found in the Dispansum Chronozone (Insigne Subchronozone). The origin of the genus is unclear, and a possible derivation from the last representatives of Grammoceras (close to G. striatulum) or more likely from Esericeras (close to E. fascigerum) has been suggested. The known palaeobiogeographic range of Pseudolillia is limited to the NW-European Province and to the W of the Tethys, and with the exception of P. emiliana, the species’ distribution ranges are short. In NE Spain, where the highest number of known specimens comes from, P. donovani (typical of the Mediterranean province) is the species presenting the oldest record (Chronozone Thouarsense, Subchronozone Fallaciosum), although it did not necessarily live and reproduce in very nearby areas. P. murvillensis (typical of the NW-European Province), was found in the Chronozone Dispansum (Subchronozone Insigne) together with P. emiliana and P. hispanica in the eastern Pyrenees and particularly in the central sector of the Iberian Range.
β-Subunit myristoylation is the gatekeeper for initiating metabolic stress sensing by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an αβγ heterotrimer that acts as a master metabolic regulator to maintain cellular energy balance following increased energy demand and increases in the AMP/ATP ratio. This regulation provides dynamic control of energy metabolism, matching energy supply with demand that is essential for the function and survival of organisms. AMPK is inactive unless phosphorylated on Thr172 in the α-catalytic subunit activation loop by upstream kinases (LKB1 or calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β). How a rise in AMP levels triggers AMPK α-Thr172 phosphorylation and activation is incompletely understood. Here we demonstrate unequivocally that AMP directly stimulates α-Thr172 phosphorylation provided the AMPK β-subunit is myristoylated. Loss of the myristoyl group abolishes AMP activation and reduces the extent of α-Thr172 phosphorylation. Once AMPK is phosphorylated, AMP further activates allosterically but this activation does not require β-subunit myristoylation. AMP and glucose deprivation also promote membrane association of myristoylated AMPK, indicative of a myristoyl-switch mechanism. Our results show that AMP regulates AMPK activation at the initial phosphorylation step, and that β-subunit myristoylation is important for transducing the metabolic stress signal.
Absorption of Ester Prodrugs in Caco-2 and Rat Intestine Models

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to elucidate the absorption mechanism in Caco-2 and rat intestine models in order to improve the accuracy of prediction of oral absorption of ester prodrugs. Pivampicillin and cefcapene pivoxil hydrochloride (CFPN-PI), ester-type oral antibiotics, were chosen as model ester prodrugs. The level of esterase activity in Caco-2 cells was lower than that measured in the rat jejunum when p-nitrophenyl acetate was used as a substrate. Almost complete ester hydrolysis occurred before the ester prodrugs reached the basolateral side of the monolayer, and the disappearance of prodrugs was thought to be due to metabolism or transport after addition to the apical side of the monolayer. When pivampicillin and CFPN-PI were used, the amounts of ampicillin and cefcapene (CFPN) produced by hydrolysis of prodrugs were increased because intracellular degradation of prodrugs resulted in intracellular accumulation. On the other hand, when ampicillin or CFPN was used, only a small amount of the drug reached the basolateral side of the monolayers and no intracellular accumulation was observed. The permeability of CFPN-PI, the solubility of which is dependent on the acidity of gastric juice, across a Caco-2 monolayer or rat intestine, was also investigated by using an in vitro system that mimics the physiological state of the human gastrointestinal tract. The oral absorption of CFPN-PI in humans is predicted to be good either in the Caco-2 model or in the rat intestine model. It is concluded that our system may be a valuable tool for evaluation of oral absorption of ester prodrugs metabolized during permeation through the intestinal epithelium. Broader evaluation of such a system is warranted.
Cooperative Regulation and Trading of Emissions Using Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles

We present a new approach to regulate traffic-related pollution in urban environments by utilizing hybrid vehicles. To do this, we orchestrate the way that each vehicle in a large fleet combines its two engines based on simple communication signals from a central infrastructure. Our approach can be viewed both as a control algorithm and as an optimization algorithm. The primary goal is to regulate emissions, and we discuss a number of control strategies to achieve this goal. Second, we want to allocate the available pollution budget in a fair way among the participating vehicles; again, we explore several different notions of fairness that can be achieved. The efficacy of our approach is exemplified both by the construction of a proof-of-concept vehicle and by extensive simulations, and is verified by mathematical analysis.
Systemic allergic dermatitis caused by sesquiterpene lactones

Patients with Compositae sensitization are routinely warned against the ingestion of vegetables, spices, teas and herbal remedies from this family of plants. The evidence for the occurrence of systemic allergic dermatitis caused by sesquiterpene lactone‐containing plants is mostly anecdotal and based on statements from patients rather than scientific data. However, a few clinical reports on accidental sensitization and exposure and oral challenge prove the existence of this kind of reaction, most convincingly for strong contact allergens such as costunolide in bay leaves, and less so for weak allergens such as those of lettuce. Other Compositae species suspected of causing systemic reactions are artichoke, mugwort, yarrow, dandelion, feverfew, and elecampane. Some Compositae vegetables and teas, such as lettuce and chamomile tea, may induce systemic reactions through both humoral and cell‐mediated mechanisms. It is difficult to disentangle the contribution of these reactions to both local and systemic symptoms of skin and mucous membranes in, for example, lettuce contact allergy. Further studies are needed to assess the prevalence of systemic allergic dermatitis caused by sesquiterpene lactones, and to clarify the pathogenesis for individual haptens.
Neural Dissociation of Delay and Uncertainty in Intertemporal Choice

Decision makers often face choices whose consequences unfold over time. To explore the neural basis of such intertemporal choice behavior, we devised a novel two-alternative choice task with probabilistic reward delivery and contrasted two conditions that differed only in whether the outcome was revealed immediately or after some delay. In the immediate condition, we simply varied the reward probability of each option and the outcome was revealed immediately. In the delay condition, the outcome was revealed after a delay during which the reward probability was governed by a constant hazard rate. Functional imaging revealed a set of brain regions, such as the posterior cingulate cortex, parahippocampal gyri, and frontal pole, that exhibited activity uniquely associated with the temporal aspects of the task. This engagement of the so-called “default network” suggests that during intertemporal choice, decision makers simulate the impending delay via a process of prospection.
The effectiveness, safety, and economic evaluation of Korean medicine for unexplained infertile women

Abstract Infertility is a condition in which a woman has not been pregnant despite having had normal intercourse for 1 year. The number of unexplained infertile females is increasing because of late marriage customs, as well as environmental and lifestyle habits. In Korea, infertile females have been treated with Korean medicine (KM). However, these effects have not been objectively confirmed through clinical trials. Therefore, this study was conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of herbal medicine treatment in infertile patients and to demonstrate the economic feasibility through economical evaluation with assisted reproductive technology. This study is designed as a multicenter, single-arm clinical trial. All participants included will be from 3 Korean Medicine hospitals in Korea and will voluntarily sign an informed consent agreement. All recruited patients will conduct related surveys and tests, and be provided with treatment according to their menstrual cycle. Patients will take herbal medicines for 4 menstruation cycles and receive acupuncture and moxibustion treatment at 3 times (menstrual cycle day 3, 8, 14) during 4 menstruation cycles. They will also undergo an approximately 4 menstrual cycle treatment period, and 3 menstrual cycle observation period. If pregnant during the study, participants will take the herbal medicine for implantation for about 15 days. In this study, the primary outcome will be the clinical pregnancy rate, whereas the secondary outcome will include the implantation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, and live birth rate. Ultimately, this study will provide clinical data regarding the effectiveness and safety of KM treatment for females with unexplained infertility and important evidence for establishing standard KM treatments for unexplained infertility. Moreover, we will identify the most cost-effective way to treat unexplained infertility. Trial registration identifier: Korean Clinical Trial Registry (CRIS), Republic of Korea: KCT0002235. Date: February 21, 2017 (retrospectively registered).
Analysis of the Baroreceptor and Vestibular Receptor Inputs in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla following Hypotension in Conscious Rats

Input signals originating from baroreceptors and vestibular receptors are integrated in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) to maintain blood pressure during postural movement. The contribution of baroreceptors and vestibular receptors in the maintenance of blood pressure following hypotension were quantitatively analyzed by measuring phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinase (pERK) expression and glutamate release in the RVLM. The expression of pERK and glutamate release in the RVLM were measured in conscious rats that had undergone bilateral labyrinthectomy (BL) and/or sinoaortic denervation (SAD) following hypotension induced by a sodium nitroprusside (SNP) infusion. The expression of pERK was significantly increased in the RVLM in the control group following SNP infusion, and expression peaked 10 min after SNP infusion. The number of pERK positive neurons increased following SNP infusion in BL, SAD, and BL+SAD groups, although the increase was smaller than seen in the control group. The SAD group showed a relatively higher reduction in pERK expression when compared with the BL group. The level of glutamate release was significantly increased in the RVLM in control, BL, SAD groups following SNP infusion, and this peaked 10 min after SNP infusion. The SAD group showed a relatively higher reduction in glutamate release when compared with the BL group. These results suggest that the baroreceptors are more powerful in pERK expression and glutamate release in the RVLM following hypotension than the vestibular receptors, but the vestibular receptors still have an important role in the RVLM.
Epigenetics of Human Myometrium: DNA Methylation of Genes Encoding Contraction-Associated Proteins in Term and Preterm Labor1

ABSTRACT Preterm birth involves the interaction of societal and environmental factors potentially modulating the length of gestation via the epigenome. An established form of epigenetic regulation is DNA methylation where promoter hypermethylation is associated with gene repression. We hypothesized we would find differences in DNA methylation in the myometrium of women with preterm labor of different phenotypes versus normal term labor. Myometrial tissue was obtained at cesarean section at term with or without labor, preterm without labor, idiopathic preterm labor, and twin gestations with labor. Genomic DNA was isolated, and samples in each group were combined and analyzed on a NimbleGen 2.1M human DNA methylation array. Differences in methylation from −8 to +3 kb of transcription start sites of 22 contraction-associated genes were determined. Cytosine methylation was not present in CpG islands of any gene but was present outside of CpG islands in shores and shelves in 19 genes. No differential methylation was found across the tissue groups for six genes (PTGES3L, PTGER2, PTGER4, PTGFRN, ESR2, and GJA1). For 13 genes, differential methylation occurred in several patterns between tissue groups. We find a correlation between hypomethylation and increased mRNA expression of PTGES/mPGES-1, indicating potential functional relevance of methylation, but no such correlation for PTGS2/COX-2, suggesting other regulatory mechanisms for PTGS2 at labor. The majority of differential DNA methylation of myometrial contraction-associated genes with different labor phenotypes occurs outside of CpG islands in gene promoters, suggesting that the entirety of DNA methylation across the genome should be considered.
The Observability Radius of Networks

This paper studies the observability radius of network systems, which measures the robustness of a network to perturbations of the edges. We consider linear networks, where the dynamics are described by a weighted adjacency matrix and dedicated sensors are positioned at a subset of nodes. We allow for perturbations of certain edge weights with the objective of preventing observability of some modes of the network dynamics. To comply with the network setting, our work considers perturbations with a desired sparsity structure, thus extending the classic literature on the observability radius of linear systems. The paper proposes two sets of results. First, we propose an optimization framework to determine a perturbation with smallest Frobenius norm that renders a desired mode unobservable from the existing sensor nodes. Second, we study the expected observability radius of networks with given structure and random edge weights. We provide fundamental robustness bounds dependent on the connectivity properties of the network and we analytically characterize optimal perturbations of line and star networks, showing that line networks are inherently more robust than star networks.
Parallel Two-Way Relaying in Cooperative OFDMA Cellular Systems

We consider a parallel two-way relaying orthogonal frequency division multiple access (PTWR-OFDMA) scheme based on analog network coding in which mobile terminals (MTs) are divided into near-nodes (NNs) and far-nodes (FNs). An NN communicates with the base station (BS) directly while an FN communicates indirectly via the assistance of NNs. We study the design and analysis issues for PTWR-OFDMA. The proposed scheme has some noticeable advantages. First, the throughput of PTWR-OFDMA increases like lnK, much higher than that of lnlnK in conventional OFDMA ( K is the number of MTs). Second, PTWR-OFDMA can provide much better fairness than conventional OFDMA. Third, the power overhead per NN reduces quickly when K increases if there is a peak rate limitation, implying that there is no strong incentive for some users to avoid providing relaying.
Expanding the differential diagnosis of chronic dizziness.

OBJECTIVE To improve treatment outcomes for patients with chronic dizziness by identifying clinical conditions associated with persistent symptoms and delineating key diagnostic features that differentiate its causes and direct attention to specific treatments. DESIGN Prospective cohort study from 1998 to 2004. SETTING Tertiary care balance center. PATIENTS A total of 345 men and women, aged 15 to 89 years, referred for evaluation of chronic dizziness (duration of > or =3 months) of uncertain cause. INTERVENTIONS Patients were systematically directed through multiple specialty examinations until definitive diagnoses were made. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Final diagnoses associated with dizziness. RESULTS Nearly all patients with chronic subjective dizziness were diagnosed with psychiatric or neurologic illnesses. These included primary and secondary anxiety disorders (n = 206 [59.7%]) and central nervous system conditions (n = 133 [38.6%]), specifically migraine headaches, mild traumatic brain injuries, and neurally mediated dysautonomias. A small number of patients (6 [1.7%]) had dysrhythmias. Four of 5 patients with migraine or dysrhythmias had comorbid anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Chronic dizziness has several common causes, including anxiety disorders, migraine, traumatic brain injuries, and dysautonomia, that require different treatments. Key features of the clinical history distinguish these illnesses from one another and from active neurotologic conditions. The high prevalence of secondary anxiety may give a false impression of psychogenicity.
Crowdsourcing as a Tool for Research: Implications of Uncertainty

Numerous crowdsourcing platforms are now available to support research as well as commercial goals. However, crowdsourcing is not yet widely adopted by researchers for generating, processing or analyzing research data. This study develops a deeper understanding of the circumstances under which crowdsourcing is a useful, feasible or desirable tool for research, as well as the factors that may influence researchers' decisions around adopting crowdsourcing technology. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 researchers in diverse disciplines, spanning the humanities and sciences, to illuminate how research norms and practitioners' dispositions were related to uncertainties around research processes, data, knowledge, delegation and quality. The paper concludes with a discussion of the design implications for future crowdsourcing systems to support research.