Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Koornwinder polynomials and affine Hecke algebras

In this paper we derive the bi-orthogonality relations, diagonal term evaluations and evaluation formulas for the non-symmetric Koornwinder polynomials. For the derivation we use certain representations of the (double) affine Hecke algebra which were originally defined by Noumi and Sahi. The structure of the diagonal terms is clarified by expressing them as residues of the bi-orthogonality weight function. We furthermore give the explicit connection between the non-symmetric and the (anti-)symmetric theory.
Partial host fidelity in nest selection by the shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis), a highly generalist avian brood parasite

Obligate avian brood parasites can be host specialists or host generalists. In turn, individual females within generalist brood parasites may themselves be host specialists or generalists. The shiny cowbird Molothrus bonariensis is an extreme generalist, but little is known about individual female host fidelity. We examined variation in mitochondrial control region sequences from cowbird chicks found in nests of four common Argentinean hosts. Haplotype frequency distributions differed among cowbird chicks from nests of these hosts, primarily because eggs laid in nests of house wrens Troglodytes aedon differed genetically from those laid in nests of the other three hosts (chalk‐browed mockingbird Mimus saturninus, brown‐and‐yellow marshbird Pseudoleistes virescens, and rufous‐collared sparrow Zonotrichia capensis). These differences in a maternally inherited marker indicate the presence of a nonrandom laying behaviour in the females of this otherwise generalist brood parasite, which may be guided by choice for nest type, as house wrens nest in cavities whereas the other three species are open cup nesters.
Identification and Evaluation of Air Pollution Tolerance Index of Selected Avenue Tree Species of Urban Bangalore, India

The resistivity and susceptibility level of tree species to air pollution within avenue’s of Urban Bangalore has been evaluated on the basis of Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) value. Four parameters namely Leaf extract pH, Total Chlorophyll Content, Relative Water Content of Leaf and Ascorbic Acid content were determined and APTI was computed. The tree species with higher APTI values like Polyalthia longifolia, Albizia saman, Azadiracta indica, Pongamia pinnata, Swietenia mahogany, Michelia champaca, Millingtonia hortensis and Tamarindus indica are tolerant to air pollutants and can be used as an effectively indicators and pollution scavengers. The tree species having higher APTI value can be given priority for plantation program in newly urbanized areas and avenue’s of Urban Bangalore; so as to reduce the stress of motorists at traffic junctions, effect of air pollution and make the environment clean for healthy life.
Strain Variation in an Emerging Iridovirus of Warm-Water Fishes

ABSTRACT Although iridoviruses vary widely within and among genera with respect to their host range and virulence, variation within iridovirus species has been less extensively characterized. This study explores the nature and extent of intraspecific variation within an emerging iridovirus of North American warm-water fishes, largemouth bass virus (LMBV). Three LMBV isolates recovered from three distinct sources differed genetically and phenotypically. Genetically, the isolates differed in the banding patterns generated from amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis but not in their DNA sequences at two loci of different degrees of evolutionary stability. In vitro, the isolates replicated at identical rates in cell culture, as determined by real-time quantitative PCR of viral particles released into suspension. In vivo, the isolates varied over fivefold in virulence, as measured by the rate at which they induced mortality in juvenile largemouth bass. This variation was reflected in the viral loads of exposed fish, measured using real-time quantitative PCR; the most virulent viral strain also replicated to the highest level in fish. Together, these results justify the designation of these isolates as different strains of LMBV. Strain variation in iridoviruses could help explain why animal populations naturally infected with iridovirus pathogens vary so extensively in their clinical responses to infection. The results of this study are especially relevant to emerging iridoviruses of aquaculture systems and wildlife.
Innovative strategies to improve diabetes outcomes in disadvantaged populations

Diabetes disproportionately affects disadvantaged populations. Eighty percent of deaths directly caused by diabetes occurred in low‐ and middle‐income countries. In high‐income countries, there are marked disparities in diabetes control among racial/ethnic minorities and those with low socio‐economic status. Innovative, effective and cost‐effective strategies are needed to improve diabetes outcomes in these populations. Technological advances, peer educators and community health workers have expanded methodologies to reach, educate and monitor individuals with diabetes. In the present manuscript we review the outcomes of these strategies, and describe the barriers to and facilitators of these approaches for improving diabetes outcomes.
Trachoma Mapping in Gombe State, Nigeria: Results of 11 Local Government Area Surveys

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine the need or otherwise for establishment of a trachoma elimination program in Gombe State, Nigeria, by estimating the population-based prevalence of trachoma in each Local Government Area (LGA) of Gombe. Methods: Using a multi-stage, systematic, random, and quasi-random sampling approach and Global Trachoma Mapping Project support, we selected 25 clusters in each LGA. In each cluster, we selected 25 households and all consenting residents aged 1 year and older were examined for trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF) and trichiasis, using the World Health Organization simplified grading scheme. Results: No LGA in Gombe State had a TF prevalence ≥5% in 1–9-year-olds. All LGAs had trichiasis prevalences above the elimination threshold and should be targeted for community-based delivery of trichiasis surgery. Only three LGAs had household-level improved wash water access of greater than 80%. Access to improved sanitation facilities was also poor as household access to improved sanitation facilities was above 80% in only one LGA. Conclusion: A trachoma program focused on delivery of trichiasis surgery is required in Gombe. Improvements in water and sanitation, through engagement with other sectors, are necessary.
Development of a Model System to Identify Differences in Spring and Winter Oat

Our long-term goal is to develop a Swedish winter oat (Avena sativa). To identify molecular differences that correlate with winter hardiness, a winter oat model comprising of both non-hardy spring lines and winter hardy lines is needed. To achieve this, we selected 294 oat breeding lines, originating from various Russian, German, and American winter oat breeding programs and tested them in the field in south- and western Sweden. By assaying for winter survival and agricultural properties during four consecutive seasons, we identified 14 breeding lines of different origins that not only survived the winter but also were agronomically better than the rest. Laboratory tests including electrolytic leakage, controlled crown freezing assay, expression analysis of the AsVrn1 gene and monitoring of flowering time suggested that the American lines had the highest freezing tolerance, although the German lines performed better in the field. Finally, six lines constituting the two most freezing tolerant lines, two intermediate lines and two spring cultivars were chosen to build a winter oat model system. Metabolic profiling of non-acclimated and cold acclimated leaf tissue samples isolated from the six selected lines revealed differential expression patterns of 245 metabolites including several sugars, amino acids, organic acids and 181 hitherto unknown metabolites. The expression patterns of 107 metabolites showed significant interactions with either a cultivar or a time-point. Further identification, characterisation and validation of these metabolites will lead to an increased understanding of the cold acclimation process in oats. Furthermore, by using the winter oat model system, differential sequencing of crown mRNA populations would lead to identification of various biomarkers to facilitate winter oat breeding.
Comparison of the efficacy of culture-based tailored therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication with that of the traditional second-line rescue therapy in Korean patients: a prospective single tertiary center study

ABSTRACT Objective: The effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori therapies has declined with an increase in antibiotic resistance. To overcome this problem, the efficacy of tailored H. pylori eradication therapy based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing was compared with that of empirical second-line rescue regimens. Material and methods: Patients who had persistent H. pylori infection after the first eradication were recommended to undergo culture for determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) via gastroscopy, which increased the cost by 300%. Fourteen-day esomeprazole, tripotassium dicitrate bismuthate, metronidazole and tetracycline (EBMT) therapy or esomeprazole, moxifloxacin and amoxicillin (MEA) therapy was performed according to the results of antibiotic susceptibility testing. In case of refusal to undergo culture, the participants were treated with either 14-day empirical EBMT or MEA regimen for second eradication after explaining the complexity, side effects and costs associated with each regimen. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.Gov (NCT 02349685). Results: In the 219 patients included, the intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) eradication rates was 75.3% and 79.8% in the 14-day EBMT group (n=89), 70.8% and 72.4% in the 14-day MEA group (n=89) and 87.8% and 100.0% in the 14-day tailored therapy group (n=41), respectively. Based on the PP analysis, the 14-day tailored therapy group showed a significantly higher eradication rate than the 14-day EBMT or MEA group (both p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Tailored therapy based on H. pylori culture and MIC test could be an option as a second-line eradication regimen in the presence of high level of antimicrobial resistance.
How am I doing?

When I am 36 months, if I can say so many words you can’t count them, have my speech understood by more than half the people I meet, use “I, me, my” and “you” correctly, answer what, where, when, and who questions, and retell familiar stories, then I will talk, listen, learn, play, and continue to develop skills. I will ask questions. I will learn to read. I will have friends. Isn’t life wonderful?
Far-infrared mapping of the starburst galaxy NGC 253 with ISOPHOT ?

A 180 m map and strip maps at 120 and 180 m were obtained for the edge-on starburst galaxy NGC 253 with ISOPHOT, the photometer on board the Infrared Space Observatory . W e compare these observa- tions with those obtained by IRAS at 60 m and 100 m and derive the far{infrared spectral energy distribution at dierent locations in the galaxy. There is evidence for the presence of cold dust (T 20 K) both in the nucleus and in the disk. Extended emission dominated by cold dust is detected up to15 0 (10 kpc) along the major and minor axis; its spatial distribution is similar to that seen in the IRAS and ROSAT PSPC images. The emission along the minor axis is probably related to large-scale outflows of gas (superwinds) which originate in the nuclear starburst and maybe to star formation in the halo. The radial dependence of the dust temperature along the major axis is found using a radiative transfer code: we show that the dust scale length in the disk is40% larger than that of stars.
Demography of Exercise: Koreans Residing in Seoul

The purpose of this study is: (1) to report the prevalence of vigorous physical activity and walking for exercise among a population-based sample of adults residing in Seoul; and (2) to determine the demographic predictors for vigorous physical activity and walking for exercise among these adults. Telephone interviews were administered to 248 male and 252 female adults residing in households in metropolitan Seoul using random digit dial procedures and stratification by gender. Multivariate analyses investigated differences in exercise by age, education and marital status. Males participated in vigorous exercise more than females, and married males were less likely to engage in vigorous exercise than non-vigorous physical activity. Males, older persons and unmarried males also spent more time engaged in vigorous exercise than females, younger persons, and married males. Participants with a high concern for health walked for exercise more than those with less concern. The amount of time spent walking for exercise was positively related to age. There is little information available about the causes of exercise habits among specific Korean subgroups. Our results suggest that cultural contingencies may operate differently by gender, a hypothesized moderator of exercise. Social contingencies, such as marriage, may interact with these gender and cultural differences. Future studies of health behaviors should include questions to measure social and cultural contingencies to understand the underlying, motivating theoretical processes.
Novel IRF6 mutations in families with Van Der Woude syndrome and popliteal pterygium syndrome from sub-Saharan Africa

Orofacial clefts (OFC) are complex genetic traits that are often classified as syndromic or nonsyndromic clefts. Currently, there are over 500 types of syndromic clefts in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database, of which Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) is one of the most common (accounting for 2% of all OFC). Popliteal pterygium syndrome (PPS) is considered to be a more severe form of VWS. Mutations in the IRF6 gene have been reported worldwide to cause VWS and PPS. Here, we report studies of families with VWS and PPS in sub‐Saharan Africa. We screened the DNA of eight families with VWS and one family with PPS from Nigeria and Ethiopia by Sanger sequencing of the most commonly affected exons in IRF6 (exons 3, 4, 7, and 9). For the VWS families, we found a novel nonsense variant in exon 4 (p.Lys66X), a novel splice‐site variant in exon 4 (p.Pro126Pro), a novel missense variant in exon 4 (p.Phe230Leu), a previously reported splice‐site variant in exon 7 that changes the acceptor splice site, and a known missense variant in exon 7 (p.Leu251Pro). A previously known missense variant was found in exon 4 (p.Arg84His) in the PPS family. All the mutations segregate in the families. Our data confirm the presence of IRF6‐related VWS and PPS in sub‐Saharan Africa and highlights the importance of screening for novel mutations in known genes when studying diverse global populations. This is important for counseling and prenatal diagnosis for high‐risk families.
Comparative Empirical Analysis of Cultural Values and Perceptions of Political Economy Issues

Figures and Tables Foreword by George Macesich Preface Overview of Cultural Values Research Purpose, Procedures, and Demographics Profile of Individualism Values Profile of Collectivism Values Profile of Value Priorities Profile of Organizational Issues Profile of National Issues Profile of International Issues Profile of Issue Priorities Socioeconomic and Political Tenets Relationships Between Values and Perceptions Summary, Conclusions, and Future Directions for Research Bibliography Index
Comparison of a Self-Limiting Transformer and a Transformer Type FCL With HTS Elements

A superconducting fault current limiter of the transformer type (inductive FCL) based on magnetic coupling between a superconducting element and a protected circuit has been investigated by many authors for various parameters and performances of a superconducting element. Another design of the device preventing high short-circuit currents is a self-limiting transformer combining the functions of a usual power transformer with the functions of a current limiter. In the present work we compare the parameters, operation and application of these two devices. The operation of the devices is investigated experimentally on small models fabricated using the same superconducting element. The parameters of the full-scale devices are evaluated. It is shown that the requirements to superconducting elements are practically the same for both devices.
Comparison of Phoneme and Viseme Based Acoustic Units for Speech Driven Realistic lip Animation

Natural looking lip animation, synchronized with incoming speech, is essential for realistic character animation. In this work, we evaluate the performance of phone and viseme based acoustic units, with and without context information, for generating realistic lip synchronization using HMM based recognition systems. We conclude via objective evaluations that utilization of viseme based units with context information outperforms the other methods.
Putative evolutionary origin of plasmids carrying the genes involved in leucine biosynthesis in Buchnera aphidicola (endosymbiont of aphids)

An 8.5-kb plasmid encoding genes (leuABCD) involved in leucine biosynthesis and a small plasmid of 1.74 kb of yet unknown function were found in the intracellular symbiont, Buchnera aphidicola, of two divergent aphid species, Thelaxes suberi and Tetraneura caerulescens, respectively. The leuABCD-carrying plasmid (pBTs1) was amplified from total aphid DNA by inverse long PCR, using outwardly oriented oligonucleotide primers specific to leuA. The resulting 8.2-kb PCR fragment as well as the 1.74-kb plasmid (pBTc1) were cloned and sequenced. pBTs1 differed from a previously described B. aphidicola plasmid (pRPE) of the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi by the presence of a small heat shock gene (ibp) and in the order of the leuABCD and repA genes. Comparison of both leucine plasmids to the small plasmid pBTc1 revealed extensive similarity with respect to putative replication functions as well as in the presence of a highly conserved open reading frame that was found to be homologous to Escherichia coli YqhA and Haemophilus influenzae HI0507 and which may encode an integral membrane protein. The three B. aphidicola plasmids most likely evolved from a common ancestral replicon, which in turn may be distantly related to IncFII plasmids. Phylogenetic affiliations of the B. aphidicola strains of the two aphid species were assessed by sequencing of their 16S rRNA genes. Evaluation of the distribution of the leuABCD-encoding plasmids within a phylogenetic framework suggests independent origins for pBTs1 and pRPE from an ancestral replicon resembling pBTc1. The implications for symbiotic essential amino acid biosynthesis and provisioning are discussed.
Running time analysis of multiobjective evolutionary algorithms on pseudo-Boolean functions

This paper presents a rigorous running time analysis of evolutionary algorithms on pseudo-Boolean multiobjective optimization problems. We propose and analyze different population-based algorithms, the simple evolutionary multiobjective optimizer (SEMO), and two improved versions, fair evolutionary multiobjective optimizer (FEMO) and greedy evolutionary multiobjective optimizer (GEMO). The analysis is carried out on two biobjective model problems, leading ones trailing zeroes (LOTZ) and count ones count zeroes (COCZ), as well as on the scalable m-objective versions mLOTZ and mCOCZ. Results on the running time of the different population-based algorithms and for an alternative approach, a multistart (1+1)-EA based on the /spl epsi/-constraint method, are derived. The comparison reveals that for many problems, the simple algorithm SEMO is as efficient as this (1+1)-EA. For some problems, the improved variants FEMO and GEMO are provably better. For the analysis, we propose and apply two general tools, an upper bound technique based on a decision space partition and a randomized graph search algorithm, which facilitate the analysis considerably.
Support Recovery of Sparse Signals

We consider the problem of exact support recovery of sparse signals via noisy measurements. The main focus is the sufficient and necessary conditions on the number of measurements for support recovery to be reliable. By drawing an analogy between the problem of support recovery and the problem of channel coding over the Gaussian multiple access channel, and exploiting mathematical tools developed for the latter problem, we obtain an information theoretic framework for analyzing the performance limits of support recovery. Sharp sufficient and necessary conditions on the number of measurements in terms of the signal sparsity level and the measurement noise level are derived. Specifically, when the number of nonzero entries is held fixed, the exact asymptotics on the number of measurements for support recovery is developed. When the number of nonzero entries increases in certain manners, we obtain sufficient conditions tighter than existing results. In addition, we show that the proposed methodology can deal with a variety of models of sparse signal recovery, hence demonstrating its potential as an effective analytical tool.
Cullin-5, a ubiquitin ligase scaffold protein, is significantly underexpressed in endometrial adenocarcinomas and is a target of miR-182

Altered expression of cullin-5 (CUL5), a member of the cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase family, has been implicated in a number of types of cancers including breast, cervical and hepatocellular cancers. In the present study, we found that CUL5 expression was significantly decreased in both endometrioid and serous endometrial adenocarcinomas with the more aggressive serous type displaying a higher reduction (−4.3-fold) than the less aggressive endometrioid type (−2.9-fold). Overexpression of CUL5 mRNA and protein in Ishikawa H endometrial cancer cells resulted in decreased cell proliferation and in a reduction in CUL5-RING E3 ligase downstream clients JAK2 and FAS-L. Finally, we demonstrated for the first time that CUL5 is a direct target of miR-182 that we previously showed to be significantly overexpressed in endometrial adenocarcinomas and we provided evidence that increased miR-182 expression is, at least in part, a result of demethylation of its upstream promoter. These data suggest a cascade in which miR-182 expression is epigenetically increased leading to decreased CUL5 expression and increased cellular proliferation. The final step in the cascade may be operating through a decrease in ubiquitination of pro-growth CUL5 ubiquitin ligase clients. This cascade offers a series of potential interventional steps involving epigenetic modification, miRNA and/or gene targeting and ubiquitination.
Chapter 2 Pulse-Width Modulation

Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is the basis for control in power electronics. The theoretically zero rise and fall time of an ideal PWM waveform represents a preferred way of driving modern semiconductor power devices. With the exception of some resonant converters, the vast majority of power electronic circuits are controlled by PWM signals of various forms. The rapid rising and falling edges ensure that the semiconductor power devices are turned on or turned off as fast as practically possible to minimise the switching transition time and the associated switching losses. Although other considerations, such as parasitic ringing and electromagnetic interference (EMI) emission, may impose an upper limit on the turn-on and turn-off speed in practical situations, the resulting finite rise and fall time can be ignored in the analysis of PWM signals and processes in most cases. Hence only ideal PWM signals with zero rise and fall time will be considered in this chapter. Pulse-width modulation can take different forms [3]. The pulse frequency is one of the most important parameters when defining a PWM method and can be either constant or variable. A constant-frequency (CF) PWM signal can be produced simply by comparing a reference signal, r(t), with a carrier signal, c(t), as depicted in Fig. 2.1a. The binary PWM output can be mathematically written as