Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparing Gene Expression Profiles Between Bt and non-Bt Rice in Response to Brown Planthopper Infestation

Bt proteins are the most widely used insecticidal proteins in transgenic crops for improving insect resistance. We previously observed longer nymphal developmental duration and lower fecundity in brown planthopper (BPH) fed on Bt rice line KMD2, although Bt insecticidal protein Cry1Ab could rarely concentrate in this non-target rice pest. In the present study, we performed microarray analysis in an effort to detect Bt-independent variation, which might render Bt rice more defensive and/or less nutritious to BPH. We detected 3834 and 3273 differentially expressed probe-sets in response to BPH infestation in non-Bt parent Xiushui 11 and Bt rice KMD2, respectively, only 439 of which showed significant differences in expression between rice lines. Our analysis revealed a shift from growth to defense responses in response to BPH infestation, which was also detected in many other studies of plants suffering biotic and abiotic stresses. Chlorophyll biosynthesis and basic metabolism pathways were inhibited in response to infestation. IAA and GA levels decreased as a result of the repression of biosynthesis-related genes or the induction of inactivation-related genes. In accordance with these observations, a number of IAA-, GA-, BR-signaling genes were downregulated in response to BPH. Thus, the growth of rice plants under BPH attack was reduced and defense related hormone signaling like JA, SA and ET were activated. In addition, growth-related hormone signaling pathways, such as GA, BR, and auxin signaling pathways, as well as ABA, were also found to be involved in BPH-induced defense. On the other side, 51 probe-sets (represented 50 genes) that most likely contribute to the impact of Bt rice on BPH were identified, including three early nodulin genes, four lipid metabolic genes, 14 stress response genes, three TF genes and genes with other functions. Two transcription factor genes, bHLH and MYB, together with lipid transfer protein genes LTPL65 and early nodulin gene ENOD93, are the most likely candidates for improving herbivore resistance in plants.
A Comparison of General and Work‐Specific Personality Measures as Predictors of Organizational Citizenship Behavior

The current study compared general and work‐specific measures of personality as predictors of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Consistent with the literature on frame‐of‐reference effects in personality assessment, two of the Five Factor Model dimensions – agreeableness and conscientiousness – were significantly related to OCB. Use of a frame of reference that is conceptually relevant to the criterion led to increased validity as a result of the decrement in between‐subject variability and within‐subject inconsistency. Results indicated that work‐specific personality yielded significant incremental relationships with OCB even after general personality is controlled. Finally, regression analyses found that the incremental variance predicted by work‐specific personality decreased as the degree of between‐subject variability and within‐subject inconsistency increased. Overall, the results suggest that there are benefits to considering the work‐specific measure of personality in the prediction of OCB.
PNA: Synthetic Polyamide Nucleic Acids with Unusual Binding Properties.

The astonishing discovery that peptide nucleic acids (PNAs, B=nucleobase), in spite of their drastic structural difference to natural DNA, are better nucleic acid mimetics than many other oligonucleotides has resulted in an explosion of research into this class of compounds. The synthesis, physical properties, and biological interactions of PNAs as well as their chimeras with DNA and RNA are summarized here.
Incremental value of 68-gallium-prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography in patients with abnormal prostate-specific antigen and benign transrectal ultrasound biopsy

Introduction: Bladder outlet obstruction due to prostate enlargement is a common health problem in male and frequently investigated with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). TRUS-guided biopsy is critical to differentiate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer (PCa) even though it has been associated with false negative with reported 3%– 16% incidence of PCa in BPH specimens. Prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT), a targeted molecular imaging for PCa, has showed promising results in recurrence and staging. We analyzed its role in patients with abnormal PSA and benign TRUS biopsy. Material and Methods: Of 558 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT performed from July 2014 to February 2017, we found six patients with abnormal PSA (range 8.2– 24.2 ng/ml, median: 13.3 ng/ml) with benign 12 cores TRUS biopsy as indication. These cases were reanalyzed in detail. Spearman's rank test was used entire correlation using SPSS version 21. Results: 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT showed mild diffuse tracer uptake in prostate in all patients with no focality and maximum standard uptake value normalized to body weight (SUVmax) range was 3.2-5.8 (median: 3.9). Two patients with PSA <10 ng/ml had normal 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT and underwent medical management. In other four patients with PSA >10 ng/ml, two showed metastatic disease in pelvic lymph node in both and in lung in one; hence, 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT changed these patients' management. Spearman's rank test showed no correlation with baseline PSA and SUVmaxof prostate (rs−0.0287, P = 0.9571) while strong positive correlation was seen with baseline PSA and 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT scan positivity for extraprostatic disease (rs= 0.828, P = 0.042). Conclusions: 68Ga-PSMA whole-body PET/CT can provide useful incremental information in patient with high PSA and negative TRUS biopsy and has a potential to guide management in this subgroup of PCa patients.
Heavy neutrino signals at large hadron colliders

We study the LHC discovery potential for heavy Majorana neutrino singlets in the process pp → W+ → l+N → l+l+jj (l = e, μ) plus its charge conjugate. With a fast detector simulation we show that backgrounds involving two like-sign charged leptons are not negligible and, moreover, they cannot be eliminated with simple sequential kinematical cuts. Using a likelihood analysis it is shown that, for heavy neutrinos coupling only to the muon, LHC has 5σ sensitivity for masses up to 200 GeV in the final state μ±μ±jj. This reduction in sensitivity, compared to previous parton-level estimates, is driven by the ~ 102−103 times larger background. Limits are also provided for e±e±jj and e±μ±jj final states, as well as for Tevatron. For heavy Dirac neutrinos the prospects are worse because backgrounds involving two opposite charge leptons are much larger. For this case, we study the observability of the lepton flavour violating signal e±μjj. As a by-product of our analysis, heavy neutrino production has been implemented within the ALPGEN framework.
Developing Latent Semantic Similarity in Initial, Unstructured Interactions

We investigated how same-sex strangers develop latent semantic similarity (LSS)—that is, how they come to use words in the same way—in their initial interactions. In a previous study, Babcock, Ta, and Ickes found evidence suggesting that dyad members’ talking, looking, and acknowledging are important behaviors for the development of dyad-level LSS. Using a different sample of initial interactions, we replicated the major findings of Babcock et al., but found that, in both data sets, only those behaviors that introduced words into the conversation were uniquely predictive of LSS. These findings suggest that “the words may be all you need,” and that LSS might develop as effectively in non–face-to-face (i.e., computer-mediated) conversations in which only words are exchanged as in face-to-face conversations in which nonverbal behaviors are exchanged as well.
Toward an Optimal SMOS Ocean Salinity Inversion Algorithm

As part of the preparation for the European Space Agency's Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite mission, empirical sea-surface emissivity (forward) models have been used to retrieve sea-surface salinity from L-band brightness-temperature (T B) measurements. However, the salinity inversion is not straightforward, and substantial effort is required to define the most appropriate cost function. Various Bayesian-based configurations of the cost function are examined, depending on whether a priori information is used in the inversion. A sensitivity analysis of T B to several geophysical parameters has been performed and has shown that the instrument has low sensitivity to the parameters that modulate the T B (including salinity). The SMOS end-to-end simulator is used to test the accuracy of different cost-function configurations. Currently, the general opinion in the SMOS community is that a partially constrained cost function, in which the salinity constraint is effectively removed, is the most appropriate for salinity retrieval. The purpose of this letter is to show that we found no evidence that such a configuration performs better than a fully constrained or a nonconstrained one. Moreover, in contrast to previous results, we found that the fully constrained inversion does not converge to the reference or auxiliary salinity value and produces the most accurate salinity retrievals of the tested configurations. Therefore, such a configuration should not be disregarded for future tests.
Fast random graph generation

Today, several database applications call for the generation of random graphs. A fundamental, versatile random graph model adopted for that purpose is the Erdős-Rényi Γv,p model. This model can be used for directed, undirected, and multipartite graphs, with and without self-loops; it induces algorithms for both graph generation and sampling, hence is useful not only in applications necessitating the generation of random structures but also for simulation, sampling and in randomized algorithms. However, the commonly advocated algorithm for random graph generation under this model performs poorly when generating large graphs, and fails to make use of the parallel processing capabilities of modern hardware. In this paper, we propose PPreZER, an alternative, data parallel algorithm for random graph generation under the Erdős-Rényi model, designed and implemented in a graphics processing unit (GPU). We are led to this chief contribution of ours via a succession of seven intermediary algorithms, both sequential and parallel. Our extensive experimental study shows an average speedup of 19 for PPreZER with respect to the baseline algorithm.
On the Invariance, Coincidence, and Statistical Equivalence of the GLRT, Rao Test, and Wald Test

Three common techniques to discriminate between alternatives in a binary hypothesis testing problem are: the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT), the Rao test, and the Wald test. In this paper, we investigate some characteristics of the corresponding decision statistics and provide their expressions for some problems of particular interest in statistical signal processing. First of all, we focus on the invariance of the Rao and Wald tests with respect to transformations leaving the testing problem unaltered. Then, we introduce necessary and sufficient conditions in order for their decision statistics to coincide with twice the logarithm of the GLRT statistic. Finally, we present some detection problems, usually encountered in practical signal processing applications, where the decision variables of the three quoted tests are equivalent, namely related by strictly monotonic transformations.
An archive of high‐resolution temperature reconstructions over the past 2+ millennia

High‐resolution temperature reconstructions (typically annually to seasonally resolved) have played a key role in understanding paleoclimate immediately prior to the beginning of the instrumental record, especially when calibrated to form an extension of comparable instrumental data coverage (global, hemispheric, and regional). Such calibration allows the information in the instrumental record to be quantitatively extended backward in time in an objective way, enabling description of much longer term fluctuations in climate than possible with instrumental data alone, although with significantly increased uncertainties inherent in proxy‐based reconstructions. This data brief describes a newly integrated archive of nearly all the high‐resolution temperature reconstructions of the past 2+ millennia included in NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, from small‐regional to global scale, which also have been recalibrated to a standard set of instrumental data. Examination of the spectral structure of the data is additionally provided.
Structural Controllability of Complex Networks Based on Preferential Matching

Minimum driver node sets (MDSs) play an important role in studying the structural controllability of complex networks. Recent research has shown that MDSs tend to avoid high-degree nodes. However, this observation is based on the analysis of a small number of MDSs, because enumerating all of the MDSs of a network is a #P problem. Therefore, past research has not been sufficient to arrive at a convincing conclusion. In this paper, first, we propose a preferential matching algorithm to find MDSs that have a specific degree property. Then, we show that the MDSs obtained by preferential matching can be composed of high- and medium-degree nodes. Moreover, the experimental results also show that the average degree of the MDSs of some networks tends to be greater than that of the overall network, even when the MDSs are obtained using previous research method. Further analysis shows that whether the driver nodes tend to be high-degree nodes or not is closely related to the edge direction of the network.
The tiered Aubry set for autonomous Lagrangian functions

If L is a Tonelli Lagrangian defined on the tangent bundle of a compact and connected manifold whose dimension is at least 2, we associate to L the tiered Aubry set and the tiered Mane set (defined in the article). We prove that the tiered Mane set is closed, connected, chain transitive and that if L is generic in the Mane sense, the tiered Mane set has no interior. Then, we give an example of such an explicit generic Tonelli Lagrangian function and an example proving that when M is the torus, the closure of the tiered Aubry set and the closure of the union of the K.A.M. tori may be different.
The formation of galactic discs

We study the population of galactic discs expected in current hierarchical clustering models for structure formation. A rotationally supported disc with exponential surface density profile is assumed to form with a mass and angular momentum which are fixed fractions of those of its surrounding dark halo. We assume that haloes respond adiabatically to disc formation, and that only stable discs can correspond to real systems. With these assumptions the predicted population can match both present-day discs and the damped Lya absorbers in QSO spectra. Good agreement is found provided that: (i) the masses of discs are a few per cent of those of their haloes; (ii) the specific angular momenta of discs are similar to those of their haloes; (iii) present-day discs were assembled recently (at z # 1). In particular, the observed scatter in the size–rotation velocity plane is reproduced, as are the slope and scatter of the Tully–Fisher (TF) relation. The zero-point of the TF relation is matched for a stellar mass-to-light ratio of 1 to 2 h in the I-band, consistent with observational values derived from disc dynamics. High-redshift discs are predicted to be small and dense, and could plausibly merge together to form the observed population of elliptical galaxies. In many (but not all) currently popular cosmogonies, discs with rotation velocities exceeding 200 kms ¹1 can account for a third or more of the observed damped Lya systems at z , 2:5. Half of the lines of sight to such systems are predicted to intersect the absorber at r * 3h ¹1 kpc and about 10 per cent at r > 10h ¹1 kpc. The cross-section for absorption is strongly weighted towards discs with large angular momentum and therefore large size for their mass. The galaxy population associated with damped absorbers should thus be biased towards low surface brightness
High Mach-number Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton flow around a small accretor

In this paper, we discuss a two-dimensional numerical study of isothermal high Mach number Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton flow around a small accretor. The flow is found to be unstable at high Mach numbers, with the instability appearing even for a larger accretor. The instability appears to be the unstable radial mode of the accretion column predicted by earlier analytic work.
Does the director election system matter? Evidence from majority voting

We examine the effect of a change in the director election system—the switch from a plurality voting standard to a more stringent standard known as majority voting (MV). Using a regression discontinuity design, we document abnormal returns of 1.43–1.60 % around annual meeting dates where shareholder proposals to adopt MV are voted upon, suggesting that shareholders perceive the adoption of MV as value-enhancing. We document an increase in boards’ responsiveness to shareholders at MV firms. In particular, relative to a propensity score-matched control sample, firms adopting MV exhibit an increase in the rate of implementation of shareholder proposals supported by a majority vote and in the responsiveness to votes withheld from directors up for election. We do not find a relation between votes withheld and subsequent director turnover, regardless of the election standard. Overall, it appears that, rather than a channel to remove specific directors, director elections are viewed by shareholders as a means to obtain specific governance changes and that, in this respect, their ability to obtain such changes is stronger under a MV standard.
Design of tire pressure monitoring system based on resonance frequency method

The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) which is mainly used to monitor in real-time the tire pressure during driving is an effective measure instrument for guaranteeing safe driving. TPMS has crucial significance for improving the safety of vehicles, thus will gain wide applications in future. A new wheel-speed based (WSB) TPMS is designed; the principle and the hardware frame of the system are described. To solve the key techniques of estimating the resonance frequency of the torque vibration, two methods of resonance frequency estimation, one based on adaptive weights preconditioned conjugate gradient (AWPCG) and the other based on non-uniform sampling wavelet transform (NUSWT), are presented. The results show that both AWPCG algorithm and NUSWT algorithm can be efficiently used in the calculation of the resonance frequency of the wheel velocity signals in TPMS. The resolution of AWPCG algorithm is higher than that of NUSWT algorithm, while the latter saves time and resources.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF HOT ACCRETION FLOWS. III. REVISITING WIND PROPERTIES USING THE TRAJECTORY APPROACH

Previous MHD simulations have shown that wind must exist in black hole hot accretion flows. In this paper, we continue our study by investigating the detailed properties of wind and the mechanism of wind production. For this aim, we make use of a 3D general relativistic MHD simulation of hot accretion flows around a Schwarzschild black hole. To distinguish real wind from turbulent outflows, we track the trajectories of the virtual Lagrangian particles from simulation data. We find two types of real outflows, i.e., a jet and a wind. The mass flux of wind is very significant, and its radial profile can be described by M ˙ wind ≈ M ˙ BH r / 20 r s ? > , with M ˙ BH ? > being the mass accretion rate at the black hole horizon and rs being the Schwarzschild radius. The poloidal wind speed almost remains constant once they are produced, but the flux-weighted wind speed roughly follows v p , wind ( r ) ≈ 0.25 v k ( r ) ? > , with vk(r) being the Keplerian speed at radius r. The mass flux of the jet is much lower, but the speed is much higher, v p , jet ? > ∼ (0.3–0.4)c. Consequently, both the energy and momentum fluxes of the wind are much larger than those of the jet. The wind is produced and accelerated primarily by the combination of centrifugal force and magnetic pressure gradient, while the jet is mainly accelerated by the magnetic pressure gradient. Finally, we find that the wind production efficiency ϵ wind ≡ E ˙ wind / M ˙ BH c 2 ∼ 1 / 1000 ? > is in good agreement with the value required from large-scale galaxy simulations with active galactic nucleus feedback.
A phase I study to determine the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a dual VEGFR and FGFR inhibitor, brivanib, in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

BACKGROUND This study was designed to determine the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of brivanib in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ninety patients enrolled in this two-part, phase I open-label study of oral brivanib alaninate. The primary objectives of this study were (in part A) dose-limiting toxicity, maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the lowest biologically active dose level and (in part B) the optimal dose/dose range. The secondary objectives of this study were preliminary evidence of antitumor activity, PK and PD. RESULTS Across part A (open-label dose escalation and MTD) and part B (open-label dose optimization), 68 patients received brivanib alaninate. Brivanib demonstrated a manageable toxicity profile at doses of 180-800 mg. Most toxic effects were mild. Systemic exposure of the active moiety brivanib increased linearly ≤1000 mg/day. The MTD was 800 mg/day. Forty-four patients were treated at the MTD: 20 with 800 mg continuously, 11 with 800 mg intermittently and 13 with 400 mg b.i. d. doses. Partial responses were confirmed in two patients receiving brivanib ≥600 mg. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated statistically significant decreases in parameters reflecting tumor vascularity and permeability after multiple doses in the 800-mg continuous q.d. and 400-mg b.i. d. dose cohorts. CONCLUSION In patients with advanced/metastatic cancer, brivanib demonstrates promising antiangiogenic and antitumor activity and manageable toxicity at doses ≤800 mg orally q.d. , the recommended phase II study dose.