Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Redundancy and specialization among plant microRNAs: role of the MIR164 family in developmental robustness

In plants, members of microRNA (miRNA) families are often predicted to target the same or overlapping sets of genes. It has thus been hypothesized that these miRNAs may act in a functionally redundant manner. This hypothesis is tested here by studying the effects of elimination of all three members of the MIR164 family from Arabidopsis. It was found that a loss of miR164 activity leads to a severe disruption of shoot development, in contrast to the effect of mutation in any single MIR164 gene. This indicates that these miRNAs are indeed functionally redundant. Differences in the expression patterns of the individual MIR164 genes imply, however, that redundancy among them is not complete, and that these miRNAs show functional specialization. Furthermore, the results of molecular and genetic analyses of miR164-mediated target regulation indicate that miR164 miRNAs function to control the transcript levels, as well as the expression patterns, of their targets, suggesting that they might contribute to developmental robustness. For two of the miR164 targets, namely CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON1 (CUC1) and CUC2, we provide evidence for their involvement in the regulation of growth and show that their derepression in miR164 loss-of-function mutants is likely to account for most of the mutant phenotype.
Equitable development through deep learning: The case of sub-national population density estimation

High-resolution population density maps are a critical component for global development efforts, including service delivery, resource allocation, and disaster response. Traditional population density efforts are predominantly survey driven, which are laborious, prohibitively expensive, infrequently updated, and inaccurate -- especially in remote areas. Furthermore, these maps are developed on a regional-basis where the methods used vary region to region, hence introducing notable spatio-temporal heterogeneity and bias. The advent of global-scale satellite imagery provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to create inexpensive, accurate, homogeneous, and rapidly updated population maps. To fulfill this vision, we must overcome both infrastructure and methodological obstacles. We propose a convolutional neural network approach that addresses some of the methodological challenges, while employing a publicly available, albeit low resolution, remote sensed product. The method converts satellite images into population density estimates. To explore both the accuracy and generalizability of our approach, we train our neural network on Tanzanian imagery and test the model on Kenyan data. We show that our method is able to generalize to unseen data and we improve upon the current state of the art by 177 percent.
The Functional Equation for L-Functions of Hyperelliptic Curves

ABSTRACT We compute the L-functions of a large class of algebraic curves and verify the expected functional equation numerically. Our computations are based on our previous results on stable reduction to calculate the local L-factor and the conductor exponent at the primes of bad reduction. We mainly restrict to the case of hyperelliptic curves of genus g ⩾ 2 defined over that have semistable reduction at every prime p. We also discuss a few more general cases to illustrate the usefulness of our method for general superelliptic curves.
Reactive Power Control of Three-Phase Grid-Connected PV System During Grid Faults Using Takagi–Sugeno–Kang Probabilistic Fuzzy Neural Network Control

An intelligent controller based on the Takagi-Sugeno-Kang-type probabilistic fuzzy neural network with an asymmetric membership function (TSKPFNN-AMF) is developed in this paper for the reactive and active power control of a three-phase grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system during grid faults. The inverter of the three-phase grid-connected PV system should provide a proper ratio of reactive power to meet the low-voltage ride through (LVRT) regulations and control the output current without exceeding the maximum current limit simultaneously during grid faults. Therefore, the proposed intelligent controller regulates the value of reactive power to a new reference value, which complies with the regulations of LVRT under grid faults. Moreover, a dual-mode operation control method of the converter and inverter of the three-phase grid-connected PV system is designed to eliminate the fluctuation of dc-link bus voltage under grid faults. Furthermore, the network structure, the online learning algorithm, and the convergence analysis of the TSKPFNN-AMF are described in detail. Finally, some experimental results are illustrated to show the effectiveness of the proposed control for the three-phase grid-connected PV system.
Subsurface Damage in Optical Materials: Origin, Measurement and Removal

The detection, measurement and removal of subsurface damage is a major effort of the LLNL Optical Sciences and Engineering Group. We will describe and show examples of three methods we are currently using to detect and measure the depth of damage in glasses and crystalline materials: taper polishing and etching, constancy of chemical etch rate, and small specimen fracture. In addition, results will be given to show that the depth of damage can often be approximated from the surface roughness and Young's modulus.
Just Desserts? Exploring Constructions of Food in Women’s Experiences of Bulimia

Bulimia, an eating disorder that affects more women than men, involves binging and compensatory behaviors. Given the importance of food in experiences of these behaviors, in this article, we examine constructions of food in accounts of bulimic behavior: how these constructions relate to cultural discourses, and their implications for subjectivity. Fifteen women who engaged in bulimic behaviors were interviewed. Through a thematic decomposition of their accounts, we identified six discursive constructions of food: “good/healthy” or “bad/unhealthy,” “contaminating body and soul,” “collapsed into fat,” “pleasurable reward,” “comfort,” and “fuel for the body. ” Many constructions were consolidated through participants’ embodied experiences, but made available through discourses in public health, biomedicine, and femininity, and had implications for subjectivity in terms of morality, spirituality, and self-worth. Thus, despite women deploying these constructions to make sense of their bulimic behaviors, they are culturally normative; this point has implications for therapeutic and preventive strategies for bulimia.
Risk factors for carriage of group B streptococcus in southern Israel.

BACKGROUND In southern Israel, a discrepancy between a relatively high prevalence of Group B streptococcus maternal carriage (12.3%) and a very low incidence of neonatal disease (0.1/1,000 live births) has been found despite the fact that no preventive strategy has been implemented. OBJECTIVES To determine the risk factors for maternal carriage in order to clarify this discrepancy and further examine the different aspects of GBS in southern Israel. METHODS Cultures for GBS were obtained from 681 healthy pregnant women, and relevant demographic and obstetric data were collected. The medical records of 86 neonates born to carrier women were retrospectively examined. Statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson chi-square test. RESULTS Women who were not born in Israel, particularly immigrants from the former USSR, were significantly prone to carry the pathogen compared to native Israeli women (Bedouins and Jews) (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS A high GBS transmission rate is expected among immigrants who came from areas with a high prevalence of maternal carriage to one with a low incidence of neonatal disease environment and were not subject to any preventive strategy. Clinical attention should be directed to this issue throughout Israel.
Muscular strength and bone mineral density in haemodialysis patients.

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between muscular strength and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients undergoing regular haemodialysis. METHODS The BMD was measured in the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and in the proximal femur (femoral neck and trochanter) with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry DEXA (Lunar DPX). Muscular strength of the extensors, flexors and abductors muscles of the femur (proximal muscles) and the extensors muscles of the back was measured with an isometric dynamometer. Thirty patients, 15 women with a mean age of 33.7 years (18-43) and 15 men with a mean age of 45.5 years (18-65) were included in the study. RESULTS There was a positive and significant correlation between the BMD of the femoral neck and muscular strength of the flexors (r = 0.490, P < 0.005), the extensors (r = 0.658, P < 0.01) and the abductors muscles of the femur (r = 0.671, P < 0.0008), as well as between the muscular strength of the flexors (r = 0.413, P < 0.02) and extensors muscles of the femur (r = 0.433, P < 0.01) with BMD of the trochanter. There was no correlation between the muscular strength of the back extensor muscles and the BMD of the lumbar spine (r = -0.119, P NS). There was no correlation between the BMD and the number of years of haemodialysis therapy (r = -0.032, P NS), the patient's age (r = -159, P NS), or the value of serum PTH (r = 0.369, P NS) respectively. However, there was a significant correlation between the BMD of the femoral neck with muscular strength (r = 0.602, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION This study reveals the close relationship that exists between muscular strength of the proximal muscles and the BMD of proximal femur in patients undergoing haemodialysis.
Beyond fluid intelligence and personality traits in social support: the role of ability based emotional intelligence

Social support represents an important individual resource that has been associated with multiple indices of adaptive functioning and resiliency. Existing research has also identified an association between emotional intelligence (EI) and social support. The present study builds on prior research by investigating the contributions of ability based EI to social support, beyond the effects of fluid intelligence and personality traits. The Advanced Progressive Matrices, the Big Five Questionnaire, the Mayer Salovey Caruso EI test (MSCEIT), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were administered to 149 Italian high school students. The results showed that ability based EI added significant incremental variance in explaining perceived social support, beyond the variance due to fluid intelligence and personality traits. The results underline the role of ability based EI in relation to perceived social support. Since ability based EI can be increased through specific training, the results of the present study highlight new possibilities for research and intervention in a preventive framework.
Shape Optimization of Mechanical Components for Measurement Systems

For the topology and shape optimization of structures, the different realizations of homogenization method are widely used (Arora, 2004; Bendsoe & Sigmund, 2003). This method is highly effective for shell constructions and allows implementing topometry and topography, sizing and shape as well as freeform optimization (Vanderplaats, 2004). However, it is a very time consuming procedure because the number of design parameters can reach a million and more. There is the possibility of taking into account some technological factors, nevertheless, in the case of bulky bodies it frequently produces shapes that are difficult to manufacture. As shown in work (Mullerschon et al., 2010), the Hybrid Cellular Automata method does not allow parallelization of computations and PBS queuing system has been used. At the same time the following resource saving approach (Janushevskis et al., 2010; Janushevskis & Melnikovs, 2010) can be used for shape optimization which includes the following steps: 1) Planning the position of control points of NURBS (see, for example, Saxena & Sahay, 2005) for obtaining a smooth shape. 2) Building geometrical models using CAD software in conformity with design of experiment. 3) Calculation of responses for a complete FEM model using CAE software. 4) Building metamodels (surrogate models) for responses on the basis of computer experiment. 5) Using metamodels for shape optimization. 6) Validating the optimal design using CAE software for the complete FEM model.
Intrinsic neural regulation of the heart in the chronic, conscious dog.

The present experiments were performed to examine the capability of the intrinsic cardiac nerves (ICN) to modify cardiac performance in the resting chronic, conscious dog. Control and cardiac-denervated dogs were instrumented for recording of left atrial (LA) and ventricular (LV) contractility, heart rate, and atrioventricular (AV) conduction time. Acetylcholine (ACh) and nicotine (Nic) were administered via an indwelling coronary artery catheter. Limited distribution from the injection site only allowed access to the LA, LV, and AV node. Both β-blockade with timolol and cardiac denervation were used to separate direct effects of ICN stimulation from indirect (e.g., reflex) effects. ACh produced the expected negative inotropic and dromotropic changes. ICN stimulation with Nic caused large decreases in LA contractility along with depression of AV conduction but only trivial effects on the LV. We concluded that the ICN has limited effects on cardiac performance in the resting animal under minimal sympathetic drive. It is likely, however, that the ICN is capable of significantly depressing cardiac function under conditions of elevated sympathetic tone as would be encountered in exercise.
Flexural Behavior of Continuous FRP-Reinforced Concrete Beams

Continuous concrete beams are commonly used elements in structures such as parking garages and overpasses, which might be exposed to extreme weather conditions and the application of deicing salts. The use of the fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) bars having no expansive corrosion product in these types of structures has become a viable alternative to steel bars to overcome the steel-corrosion problems. However, the ability of FRP materials to redistribute loads and moments in continuous beams is questionable due to the linear-elastic behavior of such materials up to failure. This paper presents the experimental results of four reinforced concrete beams with rectangular cross section of 200×300 mm continuous over two spans of 2,800 mm each. The material and the amount of longitudinal reinforcement were the main investigated parameters in this study. Two beams were reinforced with glass FRP (GFRP) bars in to different configurations while one beam was reinforced with carbon FRP bars. A steel-reinforced conti.
Running Head : FACE AND OBJECT RECOGNITION Does visual subordinate-level categorization engage the functionally-de ned fusiform face area ?

Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to compare brain activation associated with basic-level (e.g., BIRD) and subordinate-level (e.g., EAGLE) processing for both visual and semantic judgments. We localized the putative face area for eleven subjects, who also performed visual matching judgments for pictures and aurally-presented words. The middle fusiform and occipital gyri were recruited for subordinate minus basic visual judgments, re ecting additional perceptual processing. When the face area was localized individually for each subject, analyses in the middle fusiform gyri revealed that subordinate-level processing activated the individual's face area. We propose that what is unique about the way faces engage this region is the focal spatial distribution of the activation rather than the recruitment of the face area per se. Eight subjects also performed semantic judgments on aurally-presented basicand subordinate-level words. The parahippocampal gyri were more activated for subordinate-level than basic-level semantic judgments. Finally, the left posterior inferior temporal gyrus was activated for subordinate-level judgments, both visual and semantic, as well as during passive viewing of faces. Subordinate-Level Object Recognition 3 Does visual subordinate-level categorization engage the functionally-de ned fusiform face area?
Genetic Diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. from Bangladeshi Children

ABSTRACT The genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. from infected children was characterized for the first time in Bangladesh. Seven C. hominis and C. parvum subtype families (including a new family, IIm) and 15 subtypes (including 2 new subtypes) were identified. The dominance of specific families and subtypes was different from that in other countries.
Growth in nurse prescribing of antibiotics: the Scottish experience 2007-13.

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to retrospectively analyse patterns of primary care antibiotic prescribing by nurse prescribers in Scotland. METHODS Data on dispensed antibiotic prescriptions written by nurse prescribers in 2007-13 were obtained from the Prescribing Information System, a database of all NHS prescriptions dispensed in Scotland. RESULTS Since 2007, there has been a steady increase in the volume of antibiotic prescribing in primary care undertaken by nurse prescribers. There was considerable variability in the frequency of antibiotic prescribing among nurses and across NHS regions. Since 2007, an increasing proportion of antibiotics prescribed by nurses are those recommended for first-line empirical treatment of infection, with a reduction in the proportion of broader-spectrum agents. Other measures of prescribing quality (duration of treatment of adult females with urinary tract infection and use of recommended doses) have improved since 2007. CONCLUSIONS This paper is the first, to our knowledge, to present an analysis of data on antibiotic prescribing in primary care by nurse prescribers. Inappropriate prescribing is a problem and, given the impact that antibiotic prescribing has on antimicrobial resistance, it is important that the prescribing behaviour of nurses is explored. This is especially significant as this is a growing body of prescribers who predominately work in the community, where the majority of antibiotics are prescribed. This analysis showed that practice varies across NHS regions and between prescribers and although more information is needed to establish whether nurse prescribers are prescribing appropriately, some quality indicators may suggest that they are following best practice.
Distinguishing of different kinds of gunpowder using various methods based on terahertz radiation

This article provides information about using terahertz radiation based methods such as time-domain spectroscopy, ATR spectroscopy and terahertz reflection imaging for distinguishing of different kinds of gunpowder. The findings in this article prove that gunpowder does not have any sharp peaks in terahertz region of electromagnetic spectrum up to 2.5 THz, but also prove that distinguishing of different kinds of gunpowder is possible using different methods based on terahertz radiation. All presented results are connected to absorbance of gunpowder and other measured materials, because comparison of absorbance analysis is essential for distinguishing of gunpowder samples.
Degree of antibody-independent activation of the classical complement pathway by K1 Escherichia coli differs with O antigen type and correlates with virulence of meningitis in newborns

A total of 95 K1 Escherichia coli strains of the O (lipopolysaccharide) serotypes O1, O7, or O18 had been analyzed previously for the ability to cause bacteremia after colonizing the gut of newborn rats. In this study, these strains were tested for their resistance to the bactericidal activity of rat serum. All strains that had caused bacteremia in a high percentage of the inoculated rats were able to survive for several hours in 90% adult rat serum. With only a few exceptions, O7:K1 and O18:K1 strains were serum resistant and virulent, whereas O1:K1 strains were serum sensitive and avirulent. Serum sensitivity was due to the classical complement pathway. K1 strains of all three O serotypes were resistant to the alternative complement pathway. O7:K1 and O18:K1 cells were killed efficiently after the classical pathway was triggered by specific antilipopolysaccharide antibodies. However, killing of O1:K1 bacteria by the classical pathway system did not require antibodies. Isolated O1-lipopolysaccharide fixed complement more efficiently than did isolated O7- or O18-lipopolysaccharide, suggesting that the differences in the chemical structure of the O antigens are responsible for the observed differences in complement sensitivity. In combination with epidemiological data, the results indicate that antibody-independent classical pathway activation provides an important defense mechanism for newborns against certain gram-negative infections.
Estimation of sound transmission loss of polymer/hollow microsphere composites

The sound insulation behavior of inorganic hollow microsphere-filled polymer composites was analyzed by means of acoustics theory to reveal the sound insulation mechanisms in the present paper. On the basis of it, a physical model of the sound wave transfer in the composite system was established, and a corresponding sound transmission loss equation was derived. The sound transmission loss ( TL ) of the hollow glass bead-filled polypropylene composites was estimated by using this equation. The results showed that the calculated sound transmission loss increased linearly with increasing the filler volume fraction, and the values of the TL increased nonlinearly with increasing sound frequency. The sensitivity of the sound transmission loss to sound frequency was significant at low sound frequency. The predicted TL was compared with the measured data from the composites and found that both the estimated TL and the measured data have a similar variation with increasing sound frequency or the filler volume fraction. This study would provide a basis for further development of sound insulation polymer composites.