Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gene Frequency Clines in the Presence of Selection Opposed by Gene Flow

Suppose we have a cline in gene frequency which results from spatially varying selection forces (which tend to establish the cline) opposed by gene flow (which tends to blur the cline). The characteristic width, W, of this gene frequency cline can be assessed qualitatively in terms of the parameters characterizing the selection and gene flow processes. We define Δ as the transition distance in the selection gradient, s as the maximum selection intensity (see fig. 1), l as the root-mean-square gene flow distance (see eq. [3]), and lc = l/$$\sqrt s$$ (see eq. [5]): then for Δ < lc we have W ∼ lc, and consequently W > Δ (as discussed fully by Slatkin 1973); conversely for Δ > lc we have W ∼ (lc 2 Δ)1/3, and consequently lc < W < Δ. The former circumstance may be thought of as relatively strong gene flow and a relatively blurred cline (W > Δ); the latter circumstance as relatively weak gene flow and a relatively sharp cline (W < Δ). The above qualitative results pertain to all situations where the fitness of the heterozygotes, Aa, is intermediate between (or, in the event of a dominant allele A or a, coincident with one of) the homozygotes AA and aa. In particular, the detailed results of table 1 apply if the heterozygotes are of precisely intermediate fitness and table 2 applies if there is dominance, so that the heterozygote fitness coincides with one of the homozygotes. More generally, if the heterozygotes are at a strong disadvantage, measured by the selection parameter h of equation (15), the gene frequency cline is steepened and has typical width W ∼ l/$$\sqrt{-h}$$. Conversely, strong heterozygous advantage leads to a very smooth cline and eventually to essentially equal frequencies of A and a at all points. The presence of asymmetry in the gene flow, as may easily arise from a prevailing wind or other environmental effect, can substantially modify the slope and position of a gene frequency cline. This can happen even when the characteristic scale length of the asymmetry (see eq. [22]) is relatively small. These results unify a large number of numerical simulations of such situations, some of which have been done for a stepped environmental gradient (effectively Δ < lc) and others for a continuous selection gradient (effectively Δ > lc). Some studies on real clines produced by the tension between selection and gene flow contain enough data to permit rough comparison with theory. The agreement between nature and qualitative theory is surprisingly good in several cases (see table 3). Field data of this sort are rare, as quantitative information about gene flow and about selective forces is difficult to get. The main aim of this paper is to present an orderly framework within which to assemble such data.
Erythrocyte Antioxidant Protection of Rose Hips (Rosa spp.)

Rose hips are popular in health promoting products as the fruits contain high content of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate whether health benefits are attributable to ascorbic acid, phenols, or other rose-hip-derived compounds. Freeze-dried powder of rose hips was preextracted with metaphosphoric acid and the sample was then sequentially eluted on a C18 column. The degree of amelioration of oxidative damage was determined in an erythrocyte in vitro bioassay by comparing the effects of a reducing agent on erythrocytes alone or on erythrocytes pretreated with berry extracts. The maximum protection against oxidative stress, 59.4 ± 4.0% (mean ± standard deviation), was achieved when incubating the cells with the first eluted meta-phosphoric extract. Removal of ascorbic acid from this extract increased the protection against oxidative stress to 67.9 ± 1.9%. The protection from the 20% and 100% methanol extracts was 20.8 ± 8.2% and 5.0 ± 3.2%, respectively. Antioxidant uptake was confirmed by measurement of catechin by HPLC-ESI-MS in the 20% methanol extract. The fact that all sequentially eluted extracts studied contributed to protective effects on the erythrocytes indicates that rose hips contain a promising level of clinically relevant antioxidant protection.
[Localization and expression of Slingshot-1L in peripheral eosinophils from patients with acute asthma exacerbation].

OBJECTIVE Eosinophils play a pivotal role in asthmatic airway inflammation. We previously found a significantly high expression of Slingshot-1L (SSH-1L) in peripheral eosinophils in acute exacerbations of asthma. Objective To investigate the expression and localization patterns of SSH-1L in peripheral blood eosinophils of asthmatic patients and their changes after treatment with inhaled corticosteroids. METHODS We recruited 4 outpatients with acute exacerbations of asthma who received no previous corticosteroid treatment and 1 healthy volunteer. From all the subjects 30 ml peripheral venous blood samples were collected before and after a 3-month treatment with inhaled fluticasone. The eosinophils were isolated, purified and counted, and the expressions of SSH-1L in the eosinophils were examined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The localization of SSH-1L phosphatases in the peripheral eosinophils was detected by immunofluorescence assay in one patient. RESULTS SSH-1L phosphatases distributed diffusely in the cytoplasm, especially dense near the membrane of the peripheral eosinophils. Glucocorticoids treatment resulted in a significant reduction in both the SSH-1L mRNA expression (0.7403∓0.1124 vs 0.4101∓0.0363, P=0.001) and SSH-1L protein expression (0.3410∓0.1337 vs 0.1543∓0.0551, P=0.039). CONCLUSION A high expression of SSH-1L in peripheral eosinophils in acute exacerbations of asthma may play a role in the activation and migration of eosinophils. The efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids in asthma control might be partly attributed to a down-regulated expression of SSH-1L.
Cone-beam x-ray phase-contrast tomography for the observation of single cells in whole organs

X-ray imaging enables the nondestructive investigation of interior structures in otherwise opaque samples. In particular the use of computed tomography (CT) allows for arbitrary virtual slices through the object and 3D information about intricate structures can be obtained. However, when it comes to image very small structures like single cells, the classical CT approach is limited by the weak absorption of soft-tissue. The use of phase information, encoded in measureable intensity images by free-space propagation of coherent x-rays, allows a huge increase in contrast, which enables 3D reconstructions at higher resolutions. In this work the application of propagation-based phase-contrast tomography to lung tissue samples is demonstrated in close to in vivo conditions. Reconstructions of the lung structure of whole mice at down to 5 μm resolution are obtained at a self-built CT setup, which is based on a liquid-metal jet x-ray source. To reach even higher resolutions, synchrotron radiation in combination with suitable holographic phase-retrieval algorithms is employed. Due to optimized cone-beam geometry, field of view and resolution can be varied over a wide range of parameters, so that information on different length scales can be achieved, covering several millimeters field of view down to a 3D resolution of 50 nm. Thus, the sub-cellular 3D imaging of single cells embedded in large pieces of tissue is enabled, which paves the way for future biomedical research.
A Prospective Cohort Study of Prenatal Diethylstilbestrol Exposure and Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Purpose: Prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES), a prototype endocrine-disrupting chemical, is associated with risk for adverse reproductive outcomes and cancer in women. We investigated whether cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk might also be greater in women prenatally exposed to DES. Methods: DES-exposed (n = 3941) and -unexposed (n = 1705) women participating in the Combined DES Cohort Follow-up Study were followed prospectively from 1994 to 2013. Prenatal DES exposure (or lack of exposure) was documented in the birth record or physician’s note. Participants reported by questionnaire any “serious medical conditions requiring hospitalization, surgery or long-term treatment,” including coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. We sought physician’s verification of self-reports and identified CVD deaths from the National Death Index. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from Cox proportional hazard regression models estimated associations between DES exposure and CVD incidence, adjusted for birth year, original cohort, and potential confounders. Results: In comparison of the exposed to the unexposed women, the HRs for reported conditions were 1.74 (95% CI, 1.03 to 2.93) for CAD, 2.20 (95% CI, 1.15 to 4.21) for MI, 1.01 (95% CI, 0.54 to 1.90) for stroke, and 1.31 (95% CI, 0.93 to 1.86) for the combined conditions (i.e., total CVD). The HRs were similar for verified outcomes (CAD, 1.72; MI, 2.67; stroke, 0.92; and total CVD, 1.25) and with additional adjustment for hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol (HRs: CAD, 1.67; MI, 2.04; stroke, 0.96; and total CVD, 1.24). Conclusions: These data demonstrate associations in women who have prenatal DES exposure with CAD and MI, but not with stroke, which appear to be independent of established CVD risk factors.
Preoperative six-minute walk distance is associated with pneumonia after lung resection.

OBJECTIVES Little is known about the relationship between preoperative physical fitness and postoperative pneumonia after lung resection. We examined the association between preoperative 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and postoperative pneumonia. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on patients with malignant lung tumours who were scheduled to undergo lung resection at Nagoya University Hospital from January 2014 to December 2015. Preoperative pulmonary function tests and the 6-min walk test were assessed. A logistic regression model and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to analyse clinical variables and compare the performance on 6MWD, forced expiratory volume in 1 s and diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide. RESULTS The data from a total of 321 patients including 283 with primary lung cancer and 38 with metastatic lung tumours were analysed. Pneumonia developed in 13 patients and caused longer hospital stays after surgery. The preoperative 6MWD of patients with pneumonia was significantly lower than that without pneumonia (425 vs 500 m, P = 0.002). In receiver operating characteristic analysis, 6MWD ≤ 450 m was a threshold for predicting postoperative pneumonia with 69.2% sensitivity and 71.1% specificity. A 6MWD ≤ 450 m, forced expiratory volume in 1 s <80% of the predicted value, diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide <80% of the predicted value, serum albumin <3.5 g/dl and blood loss during surgery ≥200 g were significantly associated with postoperative pneumonia in a logistic model. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative 6MWD was significantly associated with postoperative pneumonia in patients who underwent lung resection for malignancies.
A Design of Convolutional Neural Network Using ReLU-Based ELM Classifier and Its Application

In this paper, we propose a method for combining of CNN(Convolutional Neural Network) with ReLU(Rectified Linear Unit)-based ELM classifier. Basically, the proposed method consists of two phase development. First, CNN is employed to extract features of image database. Next, ReLU-based ELM classifier is used to classify them. The CNN used in this paper uses one of the pre-trained architecture model. The reason is that since hundreds of images have been already learned, it is easy to use for feature extraction and the feature values are classified as input data through the ELM classifier. And we use the activation function that is used to get the optimal output weight in the existing ELM classifier as the ReLU function used to compensate the disadvantage of the existing activation function in the CNN. The experiment is performed by well-known CIFAR-10. The CIFAR-10 database consists of 10 classes, 50000 training images and 10000 test images. The experiment result showed good classification rate and rapid processing time in comparison with conventional machine learning algorithms and ELM itself.
Self‐administered acupressure for insomnia disorder: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Self‐administered acupressure has potential as a low‐cost alternative treatment for insomnia. To evaluate the short‐term effects of self‐administered acupressure for alleviating insomnia, a pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted. Thirty‐one subjects (mean age: 53.2 years; 77.4% female) with insomnia disorder were recruited from a community. The participants were randomized to receive two lessons on either self‐administered acupressure or sleep hygiene education. The subjects in the self‐administered acupressure group (n = 15) were taught to practise self‐administered acupressure daily for 4 weeks. The subjects in the comparison group (n = 16) were advised to follow sleep hygiene education. The primary outcome was the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Other measures included a sleep diary, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Short‐form Six‐Dimension. The subjects in the self‐administered acupressure group had a significantly lower ISI score than the subjects in the sleep hygiene education group at week 8 (effect size = 0.56, P = 0.03). However, this observed group difference did not reach a statistically significant level after Bonferroni correction. With regard to the secondary outcomes, moderate between‐group effect sizes were observed in sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset based on the sleep diary, although the differences were not significant. The adherence to self‐administered acupressure practice was satisfactory, with 92.3% of the subjects who completed the lessons still practising acupressure at week 8. In conclusion, self‐administered acupressure taught in a short training course may be a feasible approach to improve insomnia. Further fully powered confirmatory trials are warranted.
New absorbent material acoustic based on kenaf’s fibre

Acoustic Standards in the building are responsible for, companies and individuals, propose new acoustic materials for the sound isolation. This paper presents a new sound-absorbent material, it is based on natural fibres, particularly fibres of kenaf. It also proposes an empirical model for this material, this models depends on the frequency. There are accepted models from the scientific community about mineral wool, glass wool, rock wool, foam or polyester fibre. Several of these models are empirical. They are obtained from the equation adjustments about the acoustic impedance and propagation constant behaviour, depending upon the flow resistivity, fibre’s diameter and density. There are even standards like UNE-EN 12354-6 where these models are accepted under certain limitations like the fundamental basis as in the materials’ acoustics behaviour prediction. From the various tests conducted in the laboratory, empirical equations are proposed for this new acoustic material. In addition, there has been a first approach to validate this model in combination with a micro-structural model, based on the steps taken by Bies-Hansen (1), which allows us to obtain the value of the resistance to flow.
Trends in long-term gaseous mercury observations in the Arctic and effects of temperature and other atmospheric conditions

Abstract. Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) measurements at Alert, Canada, from 1995 to 2007 were analyzed for statistical time trends and for correlations with meteorological and climate data. A significant decreasing trend in annual GEM concentration is reported at Alert, with an estimated slope of −0.0086 ng m−3 yr−1 (−0.6% yr−1) over this 13-year period. It is shown that there has been a shift in the month of minimum mean GEM concentration from May to April due to a change in the timing of springtime atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDEs). These AMDEs are found to decrease with increasing local temperature within each month, both at Alert and at Amderma, Russia. These results support the temperature dependence suggested by previous experimental results and theoretical kinetic calculations on both bromine generation and mercury oxidation and highlight the potential for changes in Arctic mercury chemistry with climate. A correlation between total monthly AMDEs at Alert and the Polar/Eurasian Teleconnection Index was observed only in March, perhaps due to higher GEM inputs in early spring in those years with a weak polar vortex. A correlation of AMDEs at Alert with wind direction supports the origin of mercury depletion events over the Arctic Ocean, in agreement with a previous trajectory study of ozone depletion events. Interannual variability in total monthly depletion event frequency at Alert does not appear to correlate significantly with total or first-year northern hemispheric sea ice area or with other major teleconnection patterns. Nor do AMDEs at either Alert or Amderma correlate with local wind speed, as might be expected if depletion events are sustained by stable, low-turbulence atmospheric conditions. The data presented here – both the change in timing of depletion events and their relationship with temperature – can be used as additional constraints to improve the ability of models to predict the cycling and deposition of mercury in the Arctic.
IFITM3, TLR3, and CD55 Gene SNPs and Cumulative Genetic Risks for Severe Outcomes in Chinese Patients With H7N9/H1N1pdm09 Influenza

Summary IFITM3 and TLR3 SNPs are associated with fatal clinical outcome of Chinese patients with avian (H7N9) or pandemic (H1N1pdm09) influenza virus infections, and the risks are cumulative. Our findings pose important public health and clinical implications in the at-risk populations.
TACTIP — Tactile fingertip device, challenges in reduction of size to ready for robot hand integration

Previous work on the TACTIP project has demonstrated a prototype tactile fingertip device, at a little over twice the diameter(40mm) of a human fingertip (16–20mm). Unlike most other developed MEMS sensors, the TACTIP device is appropriate for all tasks for which humans use their fingertips; examples include object manipulation, contact sensing, pressure sensing and shear force detection. This is achieved whilst maintaining a very high level of robustness. Further work with this concept has reduced the size of the device to that closely matching the range of a human fingertip (20mm). Previous development of the TACTIP device has in isolation, proven the potential for these applications, but not provided a benchmark specification of its technical performance. This paper presents benchmarking results from testing pressure and shear force readings using both versions of the TACTIP designs with comparisons that highlight the compromises encountered when reducing the physical build size of the device. The results show that a reduced size device offers greater sensitivity under lower forces, but cannot be subjected to the greater forces that the larger device can.
Mutations in the accessory subunit NDUFB10 result in isolated complex I deficiency and illustrate the critical role of intermembrane space import for complex I holoenzyme assembly

An infant presented with fatal infantile lactic acidosis and cardiomyopathy, and was found to have profoundly decreased activity of respiratory chain complex I in muscle, heart and liver. Exome sequencing revealed compound heterozygous mutations in NDUFB10, which encodes an accessory subunit located within the PD part of complex I. One mutation resulted in a premature stop codon and absent protein, while the second mutation replaced the highly conserved cysteine 107 with a serine residue. Protein expression of NDUFB10 was decreased in muscle and heart, and less so in the liver and fibroblasts, resulting in the perturbed assembly of the holoenzyme at the 830 kDa stage. NDUFB10 was identified together with three other complex I subunits as a substrate of the intermembrane space oxidoreductase CHCHD4 (also known as Mia40). We found that during its mitochondrial import and maturation NDUFB10 transiently interacts with CHCHD4 and acquires disulfide bonds. The mutation of cysteine residue 107 in NDUFB10 impaired oxidation and efficient mitochondrial accumulation of the protein and resulted in degradation of non-imported precursors. Our findings indicate that mutations in NDUFB10 are a novel cause of complex I deficiency associated with a late stage assembly defect and emphasize the role of intermembrane space proteins for the efficient assembly of complex I.
3D seismic geomorphology and sedimentology of the Chalk Group, southern Danish North Sea

Abstract: Classically, the North Sea Chalk is interpreted as having been deposited under quiet, homogeneous pelagic conditions with local redeposition in slumps and slides. Recent observations of highly discontinuous reflection patterns on 2D and 3D seismic reflection data from the NW European Chalk Group have led to a revision of some general ideas of chalk deposition, with the suggestion that long-lived, contour-parallel bottom currents exerted a primary influence on the development of intra-chalk channels, drifts and mounds. This study proposes an alternative explanation for the formation of selected intra-chalk seismic and stratal discontinuities, interpreting these as being caused by gravity-driven processes that developed in response to intense syndepositional tectonics. Submarine mass-transport systems identified in the study area include large-scale slumps, slides, debris flows and turbidites. The last occur in sinuous channel systems flanked by large master levees, with the channel fill exhibiting well-developed secondary banks and overbanks on the outer bends of the channel thalweg. This first documentation of channelized density-flow deposits in the North Sea Chalk has important consequences for the interpretation and prediction of redeposited chalk units, emphasizing at the same time the strength of detailed 3D seismic discontinuity detection for subsurface sedimentary-systems analysis.
Tensile behavior of staple fiber yarns part III: comparison of mathematical models

Abstract Despite the development of artificial neural network and computer simulation models that predict yarn tensile properties, the mathematical model is still very important being the base for all models. In this research, three mathematical models have been applied for evaluation of coefficient of fiber strength utilization in staple spun yarns before break at same value of yarn strains. The experiments were conducted on cotton, viscose and polyester fibers, and yarns. The results indicated that our model exhibited least prediction error followed by Pan’s and Frydrych’s models for cotton and viscose but for polyester, Pan’s model produced least error followed by Frydrych’s model and our model. The superiority of our model might be resulted from the introduction of the phenomena of fiber directional distribution in the staple spun yarns.