Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Finding the gap: a brightness-based strategy for guidance in cluttered environments

The ability to move safely between obstacles is critical for animals that fly rapidly through cluttered environments but surprisingly little is known about how they achieve this. Do they reactively avoid obstacles or do they instead fly towards the gaps between them? If they aim towards gaps, what information do they use to detect and fly through them? Here, we aim to answer these questions by presenting orchid bees with different apertures. When negotiating gaps, orchid bees locate and fly close to the point that gives them greatest clearance from the edges. The cue that they use to pinpoint this spot is the brightness gradient formed across the aperture. Furthermore, we find that orchid bees also rely on brightness cues to locate gaps that are sufficiently large to negotiate safely. The advantage of using brightness for locating and negotiating gaps in a cluttered environment is that it provides information about the safest path through obstacles, at least in a forest environment. This brightness-based guidance strategy for gap detection and negotiation represents a fast, computationally simple and efficient mechanism to identify the clearest path through a forest and is, therefore, likely to represent a more general mechanism used by other animals.
Determining Reflectance Properties of an Object Using Range and Brightness Images

The authors discuss a method of recovering reflectance properties of a surface from a range image given by a range finder and a brightness image given by a standard TV camera. The Torrance-Sparrow model is used for the reflectance model. The model consists of the Lambertian and specular components: its reflectance properties consist of the relative strength between the Lambertian and specular components and specular sharpness as well as light source direction. An iterative least square fitting method is used to obtain these parameters based on the range and brightness images. An input image is segmented into four different parts using the parameters: Lambertian reflection, specular reflection, interreflection, and shadow part. The authors also reconstruct ideal images that consist of only Lambertian or specular reflection. >
Response to hyperventilation and 5.5% CO2 inhalation of subjects with types of specific phobia, panic disorder, or no mental disorder.

OBJECTIVE This study tested the hypothesis that compared to other DSM-IV specific phobia types, situational specific phobias have more in common with panic disorder and agoraphobia. METHOD Responses to hyperventilation and CO2 inhalation were compared across groups of patients with the four main DSM-IV specific phobia types, a group with panic disorder, and a group of comparison subjects with no anxiety disorder (N = 15 per group). RESULTS Although these challenges have been shown previously to distinguish patients with panic disorder from other groups, no groups differed significantly in their responses to hyperventilation. In addition, whereas the patients with panic disorder responded more to the CO2 challenge than did the normal subjects, the specific phobia groups did not differ from one another or from the other groups on most measures. For the few CO2 measures on which specific phobia groups differed, patients with situational and natural environment phobias showed the greatest response. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these findings provided only limited support for the hypothesis that situational specific phobias are related to panic disorder.
Refinement and verification of the physiologically based dosimetry description for acrylonitrile in rats.

The physiologically based dosimetry description for acrylonitrile (ACN) and its mutagenic epoxide metabolite 2-cyanoethylene oxide (CEO) in F-344 rats (M. L. Gargas, M. E. Anderson, S.K.O. Teo, R. Batra, T. R. Fennell, and G. L. Kedderis, 1995, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 134, 185-194) has been refined to include a physiological stomach compartment and the reactions of ACN with tissue glutathione (GSH). The second-order rate constant for reaction of ACN and GSH at pH 7.3 was measured and included in the dosimetry description. Metabolic parameters for ACN and CEO were estimated from oral bolus pharmacokinetic studies and previously obtained iv bolus data (3.4, 47, 55, or 84 mg ACN/kg). Rats were given bolus oral doses of 3, 10, or 30 mg ACN/kg in water, and blood samples were collected at selected time points. ACN and CEO blood concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. The brain and liver concentrations of ACN and CEO were also measured after 10 mg ACN/kg po. ACN elimination from blood was described by saturable P450 epoxidation (Vmax of 5.0 mg/hr/kg and K(M) of 1.5 mg/liter) and first-order GSH conjugation (73 hr(-1)/kg). CEO elimination was described by first-order GSH conjugation (500 hr(-1)/kg). The pharmacokinetic data were well simulated, although CEO blood concentrations after bolus oral dosing were somewhat overestimated. Sensitivity analysis of the dosimetry description indicated that the inhalation exposure route was much more sensitive to changes in metabolic and physiological parameters than either the iv or oral bolus routes. Therefore, inhalation pharmacokinetic data were obtained and compared to simulations of the dosimetry description. Rats were exposed to 186, 254, or 291 ppm ACN for 3 hr. ACN and CEO concentrations were measured in blood, brain, and liver at selected postexposure time points. The dosimetry description accurately simulated the ACN inhalation pharmacokinetic data, providing verification of the parameter estimates. The verified rat dosimetry description for ACN and CEO will be used as the basis for development of a dosimetry description for ACN in people.
Investigation of Self-Heating Effects in Gate-All-Around MOSFETs With Vertically Stacked Multiple Silicon Nanowire Channels

The self-heating effects (SHEs) in gate-all-around (GAA) MOSFETs with vertically stacked silicon nanowire (SiNW) channels are investigated. Direct observations using thermal images, electrical proof measurements, and supportive numerical simulations are carried out to verify the SHEs. This paper examines the location of hot spots as well as heat dissipation paths (heat sink) depending on the device geometry, and the electrical degradation produced by the SHEs. It also includes the estimation of the surface temperature of the GAA MOSFET and the average temperature across the bulk channel. Design parameters for improved management of the heat dissipation in a device are suggested. This investigation can contribute to improve the device performance and reliability of a 3-D stacked structure.
Good Soldiers on the Web: Understanding the Drivers of Participation in Online Communities of Consumption

Effective consumer participation (CP) may greatly determine the success of an online community of consumption (OCC). Drawing on theories of organizational citizenship behavior, this paper offers a conceptualization of CP and classifies participation into in-role and extra-role types. An integrated framework based on the concept of customer participation and online community management is proposed and tested with a survey of 469 respondents to explore the antecedents of CP in OCCs. The results show that the effectiveness of online community management, cooperative norms, technology readiness, and perceived benefits of participation all significantly affect in-role and extra-role CP. The findings also reveal that in-role participation is primarily determined by the effectiveness of online community management, whereas extra-role participation is mainly affected by perceived benefits of participation. In addition, effectiveness of online community management positively influences cooperative norms and perceived benefits of participation. This study sheds some new light on the characteristics of CP in OCCs by demonstrating that the OCC users differentiate their in-role participation from extra-role participation. The findings pertaining to the drivers of CP also offer guidelines for managing the two types of participative behavior, which are both vital for the sustainability and success of OCCs.
gp120‐induced programmed cell death in recently activated T cells without subsequent ligation of the T cell receptor

In most individuals, HIV infection is characterized by a progressive decline in the number of peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes, and while the number of CD4+ cells is within the normal range, defects in immune function are detectable. To date neither the decline in function nor the decline in cell number have been satisfactorily explained. Here we describe a mechanism which may contribute to the immunodeficiency and decline in CD4+ cell numbers in HIV‐infected individuals. We show that recently activated T cells are susceptible to apoptosis when exposed to HIV gp120 in the presence of anti‐gp120 antibody.
Water Pollution and Cyanobacteria's Variation of Rivers Surrounding Southern Taihu Lake, China

The water quality and cyanobacterial variation of rivers surrounding southern Taihu Lake, China were purposively monitored from 2008 to 2010. Trophic level index (TLI) was used to evaluate the trophic levels of southern Taihu Lake. Results showed a considerable decline in the monitored data compared with 2007, and the data showed downward trends year after year. The TLI decreased from 55.6 to 51.3, which implied that southern Taihu Lake was mildly eutrophic. The water quality and cyanobacterial variation indicated a positive response to the adopted control measures in the southern Taihu Lake basin, but the intra‐ and inter‐annual variability was still quite varied. High concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus typically lead to algae outbreaks, however, the cyanobacteria growth may result in a decline of the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus. Temperature and other weather conditions are also important factors for algae outbreaks; the risk of blue‐green algal blooms still persists.
Attitudes About Patient Safety: A Survey of Physicians-in-Training

Little is known about the attitudes of physicians-in-training on patient safety, although success in error reduction strategies requires their support. We surveyed house staff and fourth-year medical students from 1 academic institution about their perceptions of adverse patient events. Three hundred twenty-one trainees (41%) completed the survey. Most believe adverse events are preventable (61%) and think improved teamwork (88%), better procedural training (74%), and improved sign-out (70%) would reduce medical mishaps. Forty-seven percent of trainees agree computerized order entry and restricted work hours would prevent adverse events. Although 60% feel malpractice fears inhibit discussion, 80% of trainees agreed physicians must disclose adverse events to patients and grow more comfortable with disclosure as training progresses ( P for trend <.01). In conclusion, trainees believe adverse events are preventable and are poised to respond to many components of the patient safety movement.
Cotylenin A, a new differentiation inducer, and rapamycin cooperatively inhibit growth of cancer cells through induction of cyclin G2

Cotylenin A, a plant growth regulator, and rapamycin, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), are potent inducers of differentiation of myeloid leukemia cells. Recently, we found that cotylenin A and rapamycin effectively inhibited the proliferation of several human breast cancer cell lines including MCF‐7. Herein, we demonstrate that cotylenin A and rapamycin rapidly and markedly induced the cyclin G2 gene expression in several cancer cells including MCF‐7 cells. The growth arrest of the MCF‐7 cells at the G1 phase, induced by the treatment with cotylenin A and rapamycin or the culture in low serum medium, markedly induced the cyclin G2 gene expression. Anticancer drugs including doxorubicin, etoposide and 5‐fluorouracil also induced cyclin G2 expression during induction of growth arrest of the MCF‐7 cell at the G1 phase or G2/M phase. Ectopically inducible cyclin G2 expression potently inhibited the proliferation of MCF‐7 cells. Furthermore, cyclin G2 knockdown induced by cyclin G2 small interfering RNA markedly reduced the potency of cotylenin A plus rapamycin to induce growth inhibition. Taken together, our results suggest that cotylenin A and rapamycin induce inhibition of cancer cell growth through the induction of cyclin G2. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 1693–1698)
Characterization of an immunosuppressive factor from malignant ascites that resembles a factor induced in vitro by carcinoembryonic antigen.

Oncodevelopmental antigens may cause immunologic suppression in the host through release of suppressor molecules from the host's own immunoregulatory cells. This concept has been difficult to study until recently when carcinoembryonic antigen was shown to induce the release of such molecules from normal circulating human mononuclear cells in vitro. However, the amount of the suppressor moiety generated was too small to adequately characterize, and its presence in vivo, i.e., in the cancer-bearing host, was unknown. Therefore, we sought to isolate and characterize a similar or identical macromolecule from ascites having an elevated CEA level in patients with cancer. A single malignant ascites, when precipitated at 0 to 35% ammonium sulfate saturation, was the source of suppressive factor for purposes of isolation and standardization. Suppression was quantitated by reduction of [3H]thymidine incorporation by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Sephadex G-200 chromatography revealed probable aggregation of the factor in isotonic buffers; aggregation was reduced in the presence of 8 M urea. Purification was achieved by precipitation with 5% trichloroacetic acid (TCA). The suppressor factor remained soluble in TCA and demonstrated a 95-fold increase in specific activity. Analytical sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated a single protein band of 50,000 daltons. Ascites from three additional cancer patients gave identical results. Physicochemical characterization of the suppressor moiety revealed stability at 70 degrees C for 30 min and at pH 2 and pH 10 for 24 hr. Delipidation by chloroform-methanol extraction, proteolytic enzyme digestion, and protamine sulfate precipitation did not affect activity, suggesting that lipid, simple peptides, and nucleic acids were not crucial. However, periodate oxidation irreversibly destroyed suppressor activity, suggesting the importance of carbohydrate to the molecule and offering one explanation for protease resistance. Similarities in m.w. (50,000 daltons), isoelectric point (pI = 3.4), physical properties (heat and acid stability and resistance to proteases), and immunologic activity of this factor with that released from lymphocytes after in vitro exposure to carcinoembryonic antigen indicates they may be identical. Our results suggest that early aberrant events induced in the immunoregulatory network by tumor-associated antigens may be relevant and may lead to better understanding of immunosuppression in the cancer-bearing host.
Calbindin‐D28k and calretinin expression in the forebrain of anuran and urodele amphibians: Further support for newly identified subdivisions

A general pattern of organization of the forebrain shared by amphibians, mainly anurans, and amniotes has been proposed considering the relative topography of the territories, their connectivity, and their neurochemistry. These criteria were needed because the amphibians possess limited cell migration from the ventricle that precludes a parcellation into circumscribed nuclei. In the present study we have tested the identity of most newly described forebrain territories in anurans and urodeles with regard to their content in calbindin‐D28k (CB) and calretinin (CR). By means of immunohistochemistry, these proteins were demonstrated to be particularly abundant and specifically distributed in the amphibian forebrain and were extremely useful markers for delineating nuclear boundaries otherwise indistinguishable. In the telencephalon, labeled cells in the pallium allowed the identification of particular regions with marked differences between anurans and urodeles, whereas the subpallium showed more conservative patterns of distribution. In particular, the components of the amygdaloid complex and the basal ganglia were distinctly labeled. The distribution in the nonevaginated secondary prosencephalon and diencephalon showed abundant common features between anurans and urodeles, highlighted using the prosomeric model for the comparison. In the pretectum, thalamus, and prethalamus of urodeles, the CB and CR staining was particularly suitable for the identification of diverse structures within the simple periventricular gray layer. However, the analysis across species also revealed a considerable degree of heterogeneity, even within comparatively well‐defined neuronal populations. Therefore, the content of a particular calcium binding protein in a neuronal group is not a fully reliable criterion for considering homologies. J. Comp. Neurol. 511:187–220, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
RECENT GEODYNAMO SIMULATIONS AND OBSERVATIONS OF THE GEOMAGNETIC FIELD

In 1995, two groups [ Kageyama et al., 1995 ; Glatzmaier and Roberts, 1995a , 1995b ] reported results of numerical integrations of fully three‐dimensional, fully nonlinear dynamos. Their papers were precursors of a stream of such models that have focused particularly on the geodynamo. They provide us, in unprecedented detail, with spectacular realizations of interesting geomagnetic field behaviors, such as secular variation and even polarity reversals. The proliferation of models has, however, created some confusion and apparently conflicting results. This can be partly attributed to the different ways in which different groups have modeled the core, normalized their equations, defined their dimensionless parameters, chosen their boundary conditions, and selected their energy sources. This has made it difficult to compare the results of different simulations directly. In this paper, we first try, as far as possible, to overcome this difficulty, so that all reported results can be compared on common ground. We then review the results, emphasizing three major topics: (1) onset and evolution of convection, (2) character of the magnetic field generated, and (3) comparison with the observed geomagnetic field. Although there are large differences in the way that the simulations are defined, the magnetic fields that they generate have some surprising similarities. The fields are dominated by the axial dipole. In some models they are most strongly generated in shear layers near the upper and lower boundaries and near the tangent cylinder, an imaginary surface touching the inner core on its equator. Convection rolls occur within which a type of the α effect distorts the toroidal field lines to create poloidal magnetic field. Some features of the models are found to strongly affect the fields that they produce. In particular, the boundary conditions defining the energy flow (e.g., an inhomogeneous heat flux or distribution of buoyancy sources) are very influential and have been extensively studied. They change the frequency and the mode of magnetic polarity reversals as well as the ratio in strengths of the dipole and nondipole moments. As the ultimate goal of geodynamo simulations is to explain the features of the real geomagnetic field, it is essential that proper comparisons be made between simulation results and observations. It is remarkable that polarity reversals reminiscent of the paleomagnetically observed field reversals have already been simulated by some of the models. Other features such as drift of the field, its secular variation, and statistical properties of Gauss coefficients are discussed in this paper and are compared with observations. These comparisons are rather primitive, not only because self‐consistent dynamo models are still too new and too few but also because many of the observations (and especially the paleomagnetic data) are themselves not yet reliable or decisive enough. The aim of the third part of this paper is therefore more to demonstrate the potential use of simulations than to elucidate the nature of geomagnetic field generation.
De la lutte biologique à l’invasion : la coccinelle Harmonia axyridis comme espèce modèle

La lutte biologique est souvent presentee comme une methode de lutte contre les ravageurs respectueuse de l'environnement, meme si la lutte par acclimatation (introduction d'une espece exotique) peut etre a l'origine d'invasion biologique. La coccinelle asiatique Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae) a ete utilisee comme agent de lutte biologique introduit en Amerique et en Europe pour lutter contre les pucerons. Actuellement, cette espece est consideree comme envahissante, et a des impacts negatifs sur l'environnement. L'objectif principal de cette these est d'ameliorer notre connaissance des processus evolutifs pouvant accompagner l'elevage en captivite, ainsi que ceux qui sont lies aux invasions biologiques. J'ai pour cela utilise une approche experimentale au travers d'etudes permettant de caracteriser les differences de traits d'histoire de vie entre les trois compartiments populationnels d'H. axyridis (populations natives, envahissantes et de lutte biologique). Les resultats obtenus montrent que les changements evolutifs les plus importants concernent le compartiment de lutte biologique par rapport aux compartiments sauvages (natifs et envahissants). Ce compartiment a subi des changements phenotypiques remarquables en reponse aux conditions d'elevage en laboratoire. Les changements evolutifs les plus spectaculaires concernent differents traits lies a la reproduction. Par exemple, les femelles de lutte biologique se reproduisent plus tot, ont une fecondite journaliere plus elevee, ainsi qu'une longevite et une duree de vie reproductive plus courte. Nous avons egalement mis en evidence des changements evolutifs entre des populations sauvages natives et envahissantes. Les adaptations aux conditions d'elevage peuvent parfois etre desavantageuses dans l'environnement naturel. Par exemple, la resistance au froid et aux pathogenes est moins importante que celle des populations sauvages. Nos resultats montrent aussi que, meme si la souche de lutte biologique europeenne est incapable de s'implanter dans la nature, l'hybridation avec les populations envahissantes americaines pourrait avoir jouer un role positif au cours de l'invasion en Europe.
Identification of Acinetobacter baumannii Strains with Monoclonal Antibodies against the O Antigens of Their Lipopolysaccharides

ABSTRACT Despite the emergence of Acinetobacter baumanniistrains as nosocomial pathogens, simple methods for their phenotypic identification are still unavailable. Murine monoclonal antibodies specific for the O-polysaccharide moiety of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of two A. baumannii strains were obtained after immunization with heat-killed bacteria. The monoclonal antibodies were characterized by enzyme immunoassay and by Western and dot blot analyses and were investigated for their potential use for the identification of A. baumannii strains. The antibodies reacted with 46 of the 80 A. baumannii clinical isolates that were investigated, and reactivity was observed with 11 of 14 strains which were isolated during outbreaks in different northwestern European cities; no reactivity was observed withAcinetobacter strains of other genomic species, including the closely related genomic species 1 (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus), 3, and 13 sensu Tjernberg and Ursing, or with other gram-negative bacterial strains. The results show that O-antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies such as the ones described are convenient reagents which can be used to identifyAcinetobacter strains in clinical and research laboratories.