Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fine-Scale Variation in Vector Host Use and Force of Infection Drive Localized Patterns of West Nile Virus Transmission

The influence of host diversity on multi-host pathogen transmission and persistence can be confounded by the large number of species and biological interactions that can characterize many transmission systems. For vector-borne pathogens, the composition of host communities has been hypothesized to affect transmission; however, the specific characteristics of host communities that affect transmission remain largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that vector host use and force of infection (i.e., the summed number of infectious mosquitoes resulting from feeding upon each vertebrate host within a community of hosts), and not simply host diversity or richness, determine local infection rates of West Nile virus (WNV) in mosquito vectors. In suburban Chicago, Illinois, USA, we estimated community force of infection for West Nile virus using data on Culex pipiens mosquito host selection and WNV vertebrate reservoir competence for each host species in multiple residential and semi-natural study sites. We found host community force of infection interacted with avian diversity to influence WNV infection in Culex mosquitoes across the study area. Two avian species, the American robin (Turdus migratorius) and the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), produced 95.8% of the infectious Cx. pipiens mosquitoes and showed a significant positive association with WNV infection in Culex spp. mosquitoes. Therefore, indices of community structure, such as species diversity or richness, may not be reliable indicators of transmission risk at fine spatial scales in vector-borne disease systems. Rather, robust assessment of local transmission risk should incorporate heterogeneity in vector host feeding and variation in vertebrate reservoir competence at the spatial scale of vector-host interaction.
Human mitochondrial DNA variation in Southern Italy

Background: Since prehistoric times Southern Italy has been a cultural crossroads of the Mediterranean basin. Genetic data on the peoples of Basilicata and Calabria are scarce and, particularly, no records on mtDNA variability have been published. Aim: In this study mtDNA haplotypes of populations from Basilicata, Calabria and Sicily are compared with those of other Italian and Mediterranean populations, so as to investigate their genetic relationships. Subjects and methods: A total of 341 individuals was analysed for mtDNA in order to provide their classification into haplogroups. Multivariate analysis was used to compare the studied populations with other Mediterranean samples; median-joining network analysis was applied to observe the relationship between the major lineages of the Southern Italians. Results: The haplogroup distribution in the Southern Italian samples falls within the typical pattern of mtDNA variability of Western Eurasia. The comparison with other Mediterranean countries showed a substantial homogeneity of the area, which is probably related to the historic contact through the Mediterranean Sea. Conclusion: The mtDNA analysis demonstrated that Southern Italy displays a typical pattern of Mediterranean basin variability, even though it appears plausible that Southern Italy was less affected by the effects of the Late Glacial Maximum, which reduced genetic diversity in Europe.
Susceptibility to Mycobacterium ulcerans Disease (Buruli ulcer) Is Associated with IFNG and iNOS Gene Polymorphisms

Buruli ulcer (BU) is a chronic necrotizing disease of the skin and subcutaneous fat tissue. The causative agent, Mycobacterium ulcerans, produces mycolactone, a macrolide toxin, which causes apoptosis of mammalian cells. Only a small proportion of individuals exposed to M. ulcerans develop clinical disease, as surrounding macrophages may control the infection by bacterial killing at an early stage, while mycolactone concentration is still low. Otherwise, bacterial multiplication leads to in higher concentrations of mycolactone, with formation of necrotizing lesions that are no more accessible to immune cells. By typing a cohort of 96 Ghanaian BU patients and 384 endemic controls without BU, we show an association between BU and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in iNOS (rs9282799) and IFNG (rs2069705). Both polymorphisms influence promoter activity in vitro. A previously reported SNP in SLC11A1 (NRAMP, rs17235409) tended to be associated with BU. Altogether, these data reflect the importance of IFNG signaling in early defense against M. ulcerans infection.
Score region algebra : a flexible framework for structured information retrieval

Approximately three decades ago researchers realized that they would have to structure data to be able to store and access large amounts of data streams that were produced each day. As a result, database management systems were designed and developed, used to keep the data in one place and for finding relevant information in this data. On the other hand, a large amount of textual documents was still stored and accessed in unstructured format. Retrieval of such textual documents, containing relevant information with respect to a user query, has been an open research question studied in the information retrieval area for half a century. Information retrieval studies resulted in numerous retrieval models and retrieval systems whose goal is to rank relevant documents according to their estimated rel- evance to a user query. Although having similar goals research areas of databases and information retrieval developed mostly independently from each other. Recently, the new `wave of documents' is `threatening' to bring these two areas closer to each other.
Why, When, and How Much to Entertain Consumers in Advertisements? A Web-Based Facial Tracking Field Study

The presence of positive entertainment e.g., visual imagery, upbeat music, humor in TV advertisements can make them more attractive and persuasive. However, little is known about the downside of too much entertainment. This research focuses on why, when, and how much to entertain consumers in TV advertisements. We collected data in a large scale field study using 82 ads with various levels of entertainment shown to 178 consumers in their homes and workplaces. Using a novel web-based face tracking system, we continuously measure consumers' smile responses, viewing interest, and purchase intent. A simultaneous Bayesian hierarchical model is estimated to assess how different levels of entertainment affect purchases by endogenizing viewing interest. We find that entertainment has an inverted U-shape relationship to purchase intent. Importantly, we separate entertainment into that which comes before the brand versus that which comes after, and find that the latter is positively associated with purchase intent while the former is not.
Mental health service use one year after China 5.12 earthquake: Relationship with post-traumatic stress disorder among survivors

Objective To assess mental health service use after one year and to determine what kinds of people prefer to seek mental health (MH) care for mental or emotional problems? Is MH service helpful to moderate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom? What are the relationships among potential traumatic events (PTEs) experiences, MH services utilization and PTSD symptoms? Methods A systematic random sample of 2300 people in 19 severely affected counties from the 5.12 Chinese earthquake was interviewed with a 90.4% response rate. The PTSD scale was based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition. Results There was a clear trend that the people who had a higher education level (OR = 2.952, P < 0.01**) and who had a higher monthly income (OR = 5.425, P < 0.01**) were more likely to seek MH services. The PTSD patients who had sought MH services and those who had not sought MH services were 182 and 653, respectively (29.8% of MH sample and 44.3% of non-MH sample). Conclusions MH services utilization was related to PTSD possibility decreasing. PTEs experiences were also related to MH services utilization and increased PTSD symptoms, so psychological intervention will continue to be an important aspect in post-disaster MH care.
Game-Based Approaches’ Pedagogical Principles: Exploring Task Constraints in Youth Soccer

Abstract This study tested the use of two pedagogical principles of Game-based approaches, representation and exaggeration, in the context of game performance of U10 soccer players. Twenty-one players participated in two 3 vs. 3 small-sided games. The first small-sided game was modified by representation. The second small-sided game was modified by enhancing the penetration of the defense tactical problem for invasion games. Decision-making and execution were assessed using the Game Performance Evaluation Tool. No significant differences were observed between games in the number of decision-making units related to keeping possession, nor in those related to penetrating the defense. No significant differences were observed in any execution ability (ball control, passing, dribbling and get free movements). The findings suggested that both games could provide similar degeneracy processes to the players for skill acquisition (specific and contextualized task constraints in which they could develop their game performance and the capability to achieve different outcomes in varying contexts). Probably both games had similar learner-environment dynamics leading players to develop their capabilities for adapting their behaviours to the changing performance situations. More research is necessary, from the ecological dynamics point of view, to determine how we should use small-sided games in Game-based approaches.
Ablation of Rotor Domains Effectively Modulates Dynamics of Human: Long-Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Background In human long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation, rotors potentially explain atrial fibrillation maintenance, but their ablation remains controversial. We aimed to explore original phase/frequency mapping methods to locate rotors and track changes induced by their ablation. Methods and Results Thirteen patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (duration, 12–72 months) underwent phase/frequency mapping (Hilbert/Fourier transforms; CARTO-Finder) of the left and right atria (PentaRay catheter). A rotor domain was defined as an area displaying at least 3 consecutive rotations. Ablation was performed by circumferential pulmonary vein isolation plus linear ablation of extrapulmonary rotor domains. We identified 19 rotor domains in 10 patients (1.8±1.1 per patient; 7 in the right atrium versus 12 in the left atrium; 15 extrapulmonary). Overall, rotor domains (9.2±2.2 rotations) displayed higher frequency of activation (6.41 Hz; 95% confidence interval, 6.24–6.57) than nonrotor domains (6.17 Hz; 95% confidence interval, 6.1–6.23; P=0.021), with interatrial frequency gradients established by the spatial location of the rotor domain (P=0.016). Fibrillatory conduction was suggested as a decrease in the frequency of the slower atria after ablation close to main interatrial conduction fascicles (P=0.035). Ablation of rotor domains (ablation line, 3.5±0.9 cm) effectively decreased the frequency of activation in both ipsilateral and contralateral atria (P<0.05 for both), whereas ablation of nonrotor domains did not. Acute conversion to sinus rhythm was observed in 2 patients after ablation of rotor domains. At 1-year follow-up, 70% remained in sinus rhythm (85% out-of-antiarrhythmic drugs). Conclusions Rotor domains appropriately explain long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation physiology at its frequency content. Their ablation effectively modifies dynamics on restricted ablation.
Synthesis of Behavioral Models from Scenarios

Scenario-based specifications such as Message Sequence Charts (MSCs) are useful as part of a requirements specification. A scenario is a partial story, describing how system components, the environment, and users work concurrently and interact in order to provide system level functionality. Scenarios need to be combined to provide a more complete description of system behavior. Consequently, scenario synthesis is central to the effective use of scenario descriptions. How should a set of scenarios be interpreted? How do they relate to one another? What is the underlying semantics? What assumptions are made when synthesizing behavior models from multiple scenarios? In this paper, we present an approach to scenario synthesis based on a clear sound semantics, which can support and integrate many of the existing approaches to scenario synthesis. The contributions of the paper are threefold. We first define an MSC language with sound abstract semantics in terms of labeled transition systems and parallel composition. The language integrates existing approaches based on scenario composition by using high-level MSCs (hMSCs) and those based on state identification by introducing explicit component state labeling. This combination allows stakeholders to break up scenario specifications into manageable parts and reuse scenarios using hMCSs; it also allows them to introduce additional domain-specific information and general assumptions explicitly into the scenario specification using state labels. Second, we provide a sound synthesis algorithm which translates scenarios into a behavioral specification in the form of Finite Sequential Processes. This specification can be analyzed with the Labeled Transition System Analyzer using model checking and animation. Finally, we demonstrate how many of the assumptions embedded in existing synthesis approaches can be made explicit and modeled in our approach. Thus, we provide the basis for a common approach to scenario-based specification, synthesis, and analysis.
Reply to “Further Proofs of Concept for the Carba NP Test”

We acknowledge the [letter by Dortet et al.][1] ([1][2]) in response to our evaluation of the Carba NP test ([2][3]), performed in two independent Canadian laboratories (the National Microbiology Laboratory, the national reference lab, and Public Health Ontario, a provincial reference lab). In
Extrinsic and depth calibration of ToF-cameras

Recently, ToF-cameras have attracted attention because of their ability to generate a full 2 1/2D depth image at video frame rates. Thus, ToF-cameras are suitable for real-time 3D tasks such as tracking, visual servoing or object pose estimation. The usability of such systems mainly depends on an accurate camera calibration. In this work a calibration process for ToF-cameras with respect to the intrinsic parameters, the depth measurement distortion and the pose of the camera relative to a robotpsilas end effector is described. The calibration process is not only based on the monochromatic images of the camera but also uses its depth values that are generated from a chequer-board pattern. The robustness and precision of the presented method is assessed applying it to randomly selected shots and comparing the calibrated measurements to a ground truth obtained from a laser scanner.
Enhancing the PML absorbing boundary conditions for the wave equation

The dynamics of wave propagation and interactions in general media is described either by the system of Maxwell's equations, or by the wave equation. This paper focuses on problems modeled by the scalar wave equation, with one or more boundaries at infinity. The computational domain is truncated by a perfectly matched layer (PML) absorbing boundary condition (ABC) modified specifically for wave-equation applications. A problem independent approach is used to enhance the PML performance within the whole frequency band of excitation, in the presence of both evanescent and propagating fields. Numerical reflections below 0.1% are achieved with PML thickness of only six to eight cells, in both open and guided-wave problems.
Mitochondrial Defects Confer Tolerance against Cellulose Deficiency

Mitochondrial mutations confer resistance towards cellulose inhibitors, indicating communication between mitochondria and the cell wall to cope with stresses that affect cell wall integrity. Because the plant cell wall provides the first line of defense against biotic and abiotic assaults, its functional integrity needs to be maintained under stress conditions. Through a phenotype-based compound screening approach, we identified a novel cellulose synthase inhibitor, designated C17. C17 administration depletes cellulose synthase complexes from the plasma membrane in Arabidopsis thaliana, resulting in anisotropic cell elongation and a weak cell wall. Surprisingly, in addition to mutations in CELLULOSE SYNTHASE1 (CESA1) and CESA3, a forward genetic screen identified two independent defective genes encoding pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR)-like proteins (CELL WALL MAINTAINER1 [CWM1] and CWM2) as conferring tolerance to C17. Functional analysis revealed that mutations in these PPR proteins resulted in defective cytochrome c maturation and activation of mitochondrial retrograde signaling, as evidenced by the induction of an alternative oxidase. These mitochondrial perturbations increased tolerance to cell wall damage induced by cellulose deficiency. Likewise, administration of antimycin A, an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex III, resulted in tolerance toward C17. The C17 tolerance of cwm2 was partially lost upon depletion of the mitochondrial retrograde regulator ANAC017, demonstrating that ANAC017 links mitochondrial dysfunction with the cell wall. In view of mitochondria being a major target of a variety of stresses, our data indicate that plant cells might modulate mitochondrial activity to maintain a functional cell wall when subjected to stresses.
Use of a generic polymerase chain reaction assay detecting human T‐lymphotropic virus (HTLV) types I, II and divergent simian strains in the evaluation of individuals with indeterminate HTLV serology

In countries with a low prevalence of human T‐lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection, indeterminate HTLV serologies are a major problem in blood bank screening because of the uncertainties about infection in these cases. The recent discovery of two new types of simian T‐lymphotropic virus (STLV), which give an HTLV‐indeterminate serology, raises the question whether indeterminate serologies in humans may be linked to new types of HTLV. Starting from a Tax sequence alignment of all available primate T‐cell lymphotropic virus strains (PTLV), including the two new types STLV‐PH969 and STLV‐PP1664, we developed generic and type‐specific nested polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). The generic PCR proved to be highly sensitive and cross‐reactive for all four types of PTLV, while the discriminatory PCRs had a high sensitivity and a specificity of 100%. There was no cross‐reactivity with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), ensuring correct interpretation of results from coinfected patients. Among the 77 serologically indeterminate samples tested, 6 were found to be HTLV‐IPCR positive and 1 was HTLV‐II PCR positive. Sequencing of one of the HTLV‐I PCR positives excluded PCR contamination, and revealed a divergent type of HTLV‐I. The majority of the seroindeterminate samples (91%) were however HTLV‐PCR negative, and no new types of HTLV were found. This new assay can identify otherwise undetected HTLV‐I or HTLV‐II infections and is a useful tool of screening for new types of HTLV among seroindeterminate samples. J. Med. Virol. 52:1–7, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An Empirical Evaluation of Knowledge Sources and Learning Algorithms for Word Sense Disambiguation

In this paper, we evaluate a variety of knowledge sources and supervised learning algorithms for word sense disambiguation on SENSEVAL-2 and SENSEVAL-1 data. Our knowledge sources include the part-of-speech of neighboring words, single words in the surrounding context, local collocations, and syntactic relations. The learning algorithms evaluated include Support Vector Machines (SVM), Naive Bayes, AdaBoost, and decision tree algorithms. We present empirical results showing the relative contribution of the component knowledge sources and the different learning algorithms. In particular, using all of these knowledge sources and SVM (i.e., a single learning algorithm) achieves accuracy higher than the best official scores on both SENSEVAL-2 and SENSEVAL-1 test data.
Changes in Auditory P3 Event-related Potential in Schizophrenia and Depression

Event-related potentials during a two-tone discrimination task were recorded in 24 schizophrenic patients, 16 depressed patients and 59 control subjects. Recordings were made when patients were medication-free. Fourteen schizophrenic and 13 depressed patients were retested at 1 and 4 weeks after the start of treatment, and 13 schizophrenic patients were also tested between 6 and 24 months after the initial recordings. In the schizophrenic group, the P3 latency was significantly prolonged compared with that in the control and the depressed groups, and remained unchanged both after 4 weeks treatment with therapeutic doses of neuroleptic drugs and at long-term follow-up. In the depressed group, the P3 latency did not differ from that of controls. P3 amplitude by contrast was reduced in both the acutely depressed and schizophrenic groups and following treatment became normal in the depressed group but remained reduced in the schizophrenic group. It is suggested that a prolonged P3 latency and reduced P3 amplitude indicate an impairment of auditory information processing in some patients with schizophrenia which is independent of the presence of acute psychotic symptoms and is not influenced by neuroleptic medication.
The Advanced Computing Systems Association a Scalable and Explicit Event Delivery Mechanism for Unix a Scalable and Explicit Event Delivery Mechanism for Unix

UNIX applications not wishing to block when doing I/O often use the select() system call, to wait for events on multiple file descriptors. The select() mechanism works well for small-scale applications, but scales poorly as the number of file descriptors increases. Many modern applications, such as Internet servers, use hundreds or thousands of file descriptors, and suffer greatly from the poor scalability of select(). Previous work has shown that while the traditional implementation of se-lect() can be improved, the poor scalability is inherent in the design. We present a new event-delivery mechanism, which allows the application to register interest in one or more sources of events, and to efficiently dequeue new events. We show that this mechanism, which requires only minor changes to applications, performs independently of the number of file descriptors.