Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cumulative Mutations Affecting Sterol Biosynthesis in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Result in Synthetic Lethality That Is Suppressed by Alterations in Sphingolipid Profiles

UPC2 and ECM22 belong to a Zn(2)–Cys(6) family of fungal transcription factors and have been implicated in the regulation of sterol synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans. Previous reports suggest that double deletion of these genes in S. cerevisiae is lethal depending on the genetic background of the strain. In this investigation we demonstrate that lethality of upc2Δ ecm22Δ in the S288c genetic background is attributable to a mutation in the HAP1 transcription factor. In addition we demonstrate that strains containing upc2Δ ecm22Δ are also inviable when carrying deletions of ERG6 and ERG28 but not when carrying deletions of ERG3, ERG4, or ERG5. It has previously been demonstrated that UPC2 and ECM22 regulate S. cerevisiae ERG2 and ERG3 and that the erg2Δ upc2Δ ecm22Δ triple mutant is also synthetically lethal. We used transposon mutagenesis to isolate viable suppressors of hap1Δ, erg2Δ, erg6Δ, and erg28Δ in the upc2Δ ecm22Δ genetic background. Mutations in two genes (YND1 and GDA1) encoding apyrases were found to suppress the synthetic lethality of three of these triple mutants but not erg2Δ upc2Δ ecm22Δ. We show that deletion of YND1, like deletion of GDA1, alters the sphingolipid profiles, suggesting that changes in sphingolipids compensate for lethality produced by changes in sterol composition and abundance.
Efficacy of ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca compartment block after hip hemiarthroplasty

Background:The fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) provides an analgesic effect in patients with femur fractures. However, the postoperative pain after hip surgery is different from that after femur fracture, because of the difference in the degree and location of tissue trauma. Whether FICB provides effective postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty is not well understood. Moreover, there is no prospective randomized study to evaluate FICB as a postoperative analgesia in hemiarthroplasty. Therefore, we performed a randomized and prospective study to determine the effect of FICB after hemiarthroplasty. The objective of this study was to compare the opioid consumption between patients who received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with and without FICB. Methods:Twenty-two patients aged 70 to 90 years who underwent bipolar hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture were recruited and allocated randomly into 2 groups: FICB group (n = 11) and Non-FICB group (n = 11). All patients received spinal anesthesia with 10 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. After surgery, the FICB was conducted using a modified technique with 0.2% ropivacaine (40 mL) under ultrasonographic guidance, and the intravenous PCA was administered to patients in both groups in the separate block room. The PCA was set up in the only bolus mode with no continuous infusion. The visual analog scale (VAS) and the opioid consumption were noted at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively. Results:The VAS was similar in both groups. The fentanyl requirement at 4, 8, and 12 hours was low in the FICB group. The total amount of fentanyl required in the first 24 hours was 246.3 &mgr;g in the FICB group and 351.4 &mgr;g in the Non-FICB group. No patient developed any residual sensory-motor deficit during the postoperative period. Patients in the Non-FICB group had nausea (n = 2), and pruritus (n = 1), and 1 patient had nausea in the FICB group during postoperative 2 days. Conclusion:The FICB has a significant opioid-sparing effect in first 24 hours after hemiarthroplasty. This suggests that FICB is an effective way for multimodal analgesia in hip surgery.
A Molecular Survey of the Diversity of Microbial Communities in Different Amazonian Agricultural Model Systems

The processes of land conversion and agricultural intensification are a significant cause of biodiversity loss, with consequent negative effects both on the environment and the sustainability of food production.The anthrosols associated with pre-Colombian settlements in the Amazonian region are examples of how anthropogenic activities may sustain the native populations against harsh tropical environments for human establishment, even without a previous intentionality of anthropic soil formation. In a case study (Model I—“Slash-and-Burn”) the community structures detected by automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) revealed that soil archaeal, bacterial and fungal communities are heterogeneous and each capable of responding differently to environmental characteristics. ARISA data evidenced considerable difference in structure existing between microbial communities in forest and agricultural soils. In a second study (Model II—“Anthropogenic Soil”), the bacterial community structures revealed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) differed among an Amazonian Dark Earth (ADE), black carbon (BC) and its adjacent non-anthropogenic oxisoil. The bacterial 16S rRNA gene (OTU) richness estimated by pyrosequencing was higher in ADE than BC. The most abundant bacterial phyla in ADE soils and BC were Proteobacteria—24% ADE, 15% BC; Acidobacteria—10% ADE, 21% BC; Actinobacteria—7% ADE, 12% BC; Verrucomicrobia, 8% ADE; 9% BC; Firmicutes—3% ADE, 8% BC. Overall, unclassified bacteria corresponded to 36% ADE, and 26% BC. Regardless of current land uses, our data suggest that soil microbial community structures may be strongly influenced by the historical soil management and that anthrosols in Amazonia, of anthropogenic origins, in addition to their capacity of enhancing crop yields, may also improve microbial diversity, with the support of the black carbon, which may sustain a particular and unique habitat for the microbes.
Expression of melanoma-associated antigens in rapidly dividing human melanocytes in culture.

Conditions were established to induce rapid clonal growth of melanocytes from newborn foreskin. Surface antigen expression was analyzed using monoclonal antibodies derived by immunization of mice with melanoma cell, melanocyte, and placental membrane preparations. Unlike resting melanocytes in normal skin, cultured melanocytes expressed most major melanoma-associated antigens tested, e.g., nerve growth factor receptor, proteoglycan, transferrin-related Mr 97,000 protein antigen, Mr 120,000 protein, and gangliosides 9-O-acetyl GD3 and GD3. HLA-DR antigen and ganglioside GD2 were expressed at very low levels or not expressed. After several subpassages, most melanocyte cultures, including clones and melanocytes, initially sorted by rosetting with monoclonal antibody to nerve growth factor receptor, lost their characteristic bipolar morphology and expression of nerve growth factor receptor and Mr 97,000 antigen but continued to express high molecular weight proteins such as proteoglycan, Mr 130,000/105,000 and 120,000 antigen. The few melanocyte cultures that did maintain their characteristic bipolar to spindle morphology continued to express all melanoma-associated antigens and even began to express HLA-DR antigens. Melanocytes cultured in the presence of the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate also maintained their bipolar morphology, were often pigmented, and continued to express melanoma-associated antigens for several passages; they did not express HLA-DR antigen. Our studies indicate that rapidly proliferating melanocytes in culture undergo antigenic changes associated with malignancy.
Maintaining ethnic dominance: Diversity, power, and violent repression

While ethnically diverse countries are generally believed to be more violent than homogenous ones, previous research has been unable to establish a clear connection between ethnic diversity and violent repression. We argue that political authorities’ tendency to violently repress their citizens cannot be explained by the ethnic composition of society per se but by the power distribution between ethnic groups. In a global sample of countries for the period 1977–2010, we find statistical evidence that the level of violent repression increases with the share of the population excluded from state power on the basis of ethnic affiliation. We combine this with a case study of the Republic of Guinea and conclude that political authorities come to see excluded ethnic groups as threats and rely on violent repression to maintain their ethnic dominance.
Attenuation of quorum sensing-regulated behaviour by Tinospora cordifolia extract & identification of its active constituents

Background & objectives: The pathogenicity of the nosocomial pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii is regulated by their quorum sensing (QS) systems. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of the cold ethyl acetate extract of Tinospora cordifolia stem on virulence and biofilm development in the wild type and clinical strains of P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii. The study was further aimed to identify the probable active constituents in the plant extract. Methods: P. aeruginosa virulence factors viz., LasA protease, LasB elastase and pyocyanin production were analyzed spectrophotometrically. Biofilm formation was studied using crystal violet staining-microtitre plate assay. The plant extract was fractionated using silica gel column chromatography and the most active fraction was derivatized using silylation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In silico testing of the molecules identified in GC-MS was performed, for binding to the P. aeruginosa LasI and LasR proteins, to predict the QS inhibitory molecules. Results: The plant extract inhibited three major virulence factors in P. aeruginosa; it exhibited enhanced biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa while decreased biofilm development in A. baumannii. The most active fraction obtained from column chromatography, exhibited suppression of virulence as well as biofilm in both the organisms. Docking scores were calculated for all the molecules identified in GC-MS, and high docking scores were obtained for 2,3,4-triacetyloxybutyl acetate, methyl 16-methyl heptadecanoate, 2-(5-ethenyl-5-methyloxolan-2-yl)propan-2-ol, methyl hexadecanoate and 2-methoxy-4-vinyl phenol. Interpretation & conclusions: The compounds showing high docking scores could probably be the QS inhibitors. These molecules can be screened further for the development of new anti-infective drugs.
Improving the Performance of the Prony Method Using a Wavelet Domain Filter for MRI Denoising

The Prony methods are used for exponential fitting. We use a variant of the Prony method for abnormal brain tissue detection in sequences of T 2 weighted magnetic resonance images. Here, MR images are considered to be affected only by Rician noise, and a new wavelet domain bilateral filtering process is implemented to reduce the noise in the images. This filter is a modification of Kazubek's algorithm and we use synthetic images to show the ability of the new procedure to suppress noise and compare its performance with respect to the original filter, using quantitative and qualitative criteria. The tissue classification process is illustrated using a real sequence of T 2 MR images, and the filter is applied to each image before using the variant of the Prony method.
Exploration of multimodal input interaction based on goals

Today applications demand newer and newer ways through which humans can interact with the system for effective and natural interaction. Each interaction modality have unique features and supports different interaction goals, which makes them logically appropriate for specific types of interaction necessary for different applications. With several multimodal input technologies now being available for users, a challenge is to design optimal combinations of multiple modalities for specific tasks. Also, it is important to understand that, how these modalities may coherently be used together in a well-coordinated manner. This paper presents our initial research wherein we did exploration with the objective of designing a scheme for identification of optimal multimodal input interaction for various applications and use cases. We identified the key interaction goals of few sample applications or usage scenarios, and systematically compared those with the capabilities of the modalities, in order to identify optimal multimodal combination for those applications.
Incertitude , imprécision et additivité en fusion de données : point de vue historique Uncertainty , Imprecision and Additivity in Data Fusion : Historical Point of View

and key words This paper presents an historical overview of the evolution of the notion of probability . The different kinds of probability and the opposition between objectivists (or frequencists) and subjectivists are presented . Then we show how some works, following the wor k by Cox, aim at deducing what is called by others axioms of probabilities, from a given set of basic postulates which well fit intuition . These postulates may then be modified in order to face the limits of probability and give rise to other data fusion approaches, no n probabilistic (fuzzy sets, possibility theory, Dempster-Shafer evidence theory for instance) . In Dempster-Shafer evidence theory , the orthogonal combination rule, originally presented without true justification, can also be deduced from postulates, as shown in the work by Smets . We establish links between his postulates and Cox's ones . At last, we illustrate by a simple example the different computation ways for combining evidences proposed in the history of probability . History of sciences, Probability, Fuzzy sets, Dempster-Shafer evidence theory, Data fusion, Imprecision, Uncertainty, Additivity .
Heritable Transmission of Diabetic Metabolic Memory in Zebrafish Correlates With DNA Hypomethylation and Aberrant Gene Expression

Metabolic memory (MM) is the phenomenon whereby diabetes complications persist and progress after glycemic recovery is achieved. Here, we present data showing that MM is heritable and that the transmission correlates with hyperglycemia-induced DNA hypomethylation and aberrant gene expression. Streptozocin was used to induce hyperglycemia in adult zebrafish, and then, following streptozocin withdrawal, a recovery phase was allowed to reestablish a euglycemic state. Blood glucose and serum insulin returned to physiological levels during the first 2 weeks of the recovery phase as a result of pancreatic β-cell regeneration. In contrast, caudal fin regeneration and skin wound healing remained impaired to the same extent as in diabetic fish, and this impairment was transmissible to daughter cell tissue. Daughter tissue that was never exposed to hyperglycemia, but was derived from tissue that was, did not accumulate AGEs or exhibit increased levels of oxidative stress. However, CpG island methylation and genome-wide microarray expression analyses revealed the persistence of hyperglycemia-induced global DNA hypomethylation that correlated with aberrant gene expression for a subset of loci in this daughter tissue. Collectively, the data presented here implicate the epigenetic mechanism of DNA methylation as a potential contributor to the MM phenomenon.
Biological, psychological, and gambling variables associated with problem gambling: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study

ii Acknowledgements.v List of Figures.viii List of Tables.ix Chapter 1: General Introduction.1 Chapter 2: Review of the Literature.2 Epidemiology of Pathological Gambling Disorder . 2 Behavioural Addiction . 2 Clinical Features and Risk Factors.5 The Reward System and Addiction.16 Gambling Factors and Neural Substrates of Reward Processing.24 Summary . 35 Principal Aims and Hypotheses.35 Chapter 3: Methods.38 Participants.38 Instruments.40 Gambling Task.41 Mood and Cognition Questionnaire.43 Procedure.44 Imaging Parameters.46 fMRI Data Analyses.47 Chapter 4: Results.49 Neuro-Imaging Results.49 vii Effect of Uncertainty during Risky Decision-Making.49 Anticipation Phase.49 Feedback Phase . 52 Anticipation in Gambling.55 Wins and Losses.65 Anticipation Phase.65 Feedback Phase . 69 Behavioural, Personality, Mood and Cognition Results.72 Gambling History.72 Betting Behaviour.73 Personality Measures.74 Mood and Beliefs.77 Chapter 5: Discussion.85 Participants and Gambling History.87 Mood, Cognitions and Urges to Gamble.88 Personality Traits.91 Betting Behaviour.93 Neurological Findings.94 Conclusion . 105 Statement of Original Contributions.106 Limitations . 107 Future Research Directions.108 References.110
Molecular Physiology of an Extra-renal Cl- Uptake Mechanism for Body Fluid Cl- Homeostasis

The development of an ion regulatory mechanism for body fluid homeostasis was an important trait for vertebrates during the evolution from aquatic to terrestrial life. The homeostatic mechanism of Cl- in aquatic fish appears to be similar to that of terrestrial vertebrates; however, the mechanism in non-mammalian vertebrates is poorly understood. Unlike in mammals, in which the kidney plays a central role, in most fish species, the gill is responsible for the maintenance of Cl- homeostasis via Cl- transport uptake mechanisms. Previous studies in zebrafish identified Na+-Cl- cotransporter (NCC) 2b-expressing cells in the gills and skin as the major ionocytes responsible for Cl- uptake, similar to distal convoluted tubular cells in mammalian kidney. However, the mechanism by which basolateral ions exit from NCC cells is still unclear. Of the in situ hybridization signals of twelve members of the clc Cl- channel family, only that of clc-2c exhibited an ionocyte pattern in the gill and embryonic skin. Double in situ hybridization/immunocytochemistry confirmed colocalization of apical NCC2b with basolateral CLC-2c. Acclimation to a low Cl- environment increased mRNA expression of both clc-2c and ncc2b, and also the protein expression of CLC-2c in embryos and adult gills. Loss-of-function of clc-2c resulted in a significant decrease in whole body Cl- content in zebrafish embryos, a phenotype similar to that of ncc2b mutants; this finding suggests a role for CLC-2c in Cl- uptake. Translational knockdown of clc-2c stimulated ncc2b mRNA expression and vice versa, revealing cooperation between these two transporters in the context of zebrafish Cl- homeostasis. Further comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that zebrafish CLC-2c is a fish-specific isoform that diverged from a kidney-predominant homologue, in the same manner as NCC2b and its counterparts (NCCs). Several lines of molecular and cellular physiological evidences demonstrated the cofunctional role of apical NCC2b and basolateral CLC-2c in the gill/skin Cl- uptake pathway. Taking the phylogenetic evidence into consideration, fish-specific NCC2b and CLC-2c may have coevolved to perform extra-renal Cl- uptake during the evolution of vertebrates in an aquatic environment.
Group Formation and Longevity in the Foreign Language Classroom: Students' Views

Group work has become ubiquitous in general education and within language teaching, but having decided to use groups in the classroom the teacher is faced with a number of decisions, including composition, longevity, and level of freedom given to students in selecting group members. Although there is a limited body of literature in general educational research discussing these issues (Bacon, Stewart, & Silver, 1999), there is no empirical research in SLA addressing this. This article describes a study conducted over one academic year, with students in compulsory English classes in a private university in Japan. Students experienced random group construction, self-selection into groups, and also groups working together for a single week, and for an entire 14-week semester. Interviews and questionnaires were used to determine preferences for group formation and longevity and to discover students' reasons for selecting group members. Results suggest that students have mixed views, but generally prefer selecting their own groups, and also changing groups at some point during a single semester. Students select group members based on friendship. Although studying with friends leads to smooth conversation, there is the possibility of increased social loafing. The implications for teachers are discussed.
Repeat Buyer Prediction for E-Commerce

A large number of new buyers are often acquired by merchants during promotions. However, many of the attracted buyers are one-time deal hunters, and the promotions may have little long-lasting impact on sales. It is important for merchants to identify who can be converted to regular loyal buyers and then target them to reduce promotion cost and increase the return on investment (ROI). At International Joint Conferences on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI) 2015, Alibaba hosted an international competition for repeat buyer prediction based on the sales data of the ``Double 11" shopping event in 2014 at Tmall.com. We won the first place at stage 1 of the competition out of 753 teams. In this paper, we present our winning solution, which consists of comprehensive feature engineering and model training. We created profiles for users, merchants, brands, categories, items and their interactions via extensive feature engineering. These profiles are not only useful for this particular prediction task, but can also be used for other important tasks in e-commerce, such as customer segmentation, product recommendation, and customer base augmentation for brands. Feature engineering is often the most important factor for the success of a prediction task, but not much work can be found in the literature on feature engineering for prediction tasks in e-commerce. Our work provides some useful hints and insights for data science practitioners in e-commerce.
Free convection on a refrigerator’s condenser

The paper presents the measurement of heat transfer coefficient for the refrigerator's condenser in free convection regime. The water was pumped through the steel coils of heat exchanger with a constant flow rate and its temperature was kept at a demanded value by means of ultrathermostat. The research was conducted in stationary conditions which were controlled by a continuous measurement of the water temperature at inflow and outflow to the heat exchanger. The temperature distribution at the external condenser surface was registered by means of an infrared camera. Single elements used to the analysis were selected using the thermogram registered. In free convection regime and in case of small temperature change the heat transfer coefficient value can be calculated by comparing the measured temperature area with analytical solution describing one-dimensional temperature distribution along the rib. The accuracy of the proposed method for measuring the heat transfer coefficient was examined by comparing the heat transferred to the air and the heat lost by water flowing through the spiral of heat exchanger. An error between these two parameters is about 6%.