Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BIOCULTURAL CONSEQUENCES OF SPANISH CONTACT IN THE LAMBAYEQUE VALLEY REGION OF NORTHERN PERU: INTERNAL ENAMEL MICRO-DEFECTS AS INDICATORS OF EARLY LIFE STRESS

The present study utilises dental histological methods to analyse enamel micro-defects as indicators of early life stress in indigenous Muchik individuals interred at two sites: La Capilla Santa Maria Magdalena de Eten (CSMME) (n = 15) and La Capilla del Nino Serranito (CNS) (n = 15), both located in the Lambayeque Valley region of northern Peru. Individuals interred at CNS date to the Early Colonial Period (AD 1533–1610), and individuals interred at CSMME date to the Middle/Late Colonial Period (AD 1625–1760), thus permitting comparison of childhood stress events between the Early and Middle/Late Colonial Periods. Results reveal a high prevalence of Wilson bands at both sites, although a lower prevalence at the CSMME was observed in comparison with the CNS. This indicates that, over time, Muchik individuals in this town may have been able to acclimate to life under Spanish oppression. Stress chronologies suggest that early life stress possibly resulted from inadequate and less than desirable food and/or water available for supplemental feeding during early infancy, especially around the ages of 4 and 5 months. Furthermore, results show that individuals with enamel defects in the form of Wilson bands at both the CNS and CSMME had an earlier mean age-at-death (9.6 and 4.05 years, respectively) in comparison with those without observed Wilson bands (19.75 and 8.8 years, respectively). These results underscore the importance of not only regional and temporal studies of the biological consequences of Spanish contact in the Americas but also of investigating the relationship between early life stress and adult health and longevity in archaeological populations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Activator of G‐protein signaling in asymmetric cell divisions of the sea urchin embryo

An asymmetric fourth cell division in the sea urchin embryo results in formation of daughter cells, macromeres and micromeres, with distinct sizes and fates. Several lines of functional evidence presented here, including pharmacological interference and dominant negative protein expression, indicate that heterotrimeric G protein Gi and its interaction partner, activator of G‐protein signaling (AGS), are necessary for this asymmetric cell division. Inhibition of Gi signaling by pertussis toxin interferes with micromere formation and leads to defects in embryogenesis. AGS was isolated in a yeast two‐hybrid screen with Gαi as bait and was expressed in embryos localized to the cell cortex at the time of asymmetric divisions. Introduction of exogenous dominant‐negative AGS protein, containing only G‐protein regulatory (GPR) domains, selectively prevented the asymmetric division in normal micromere formation. These results support the growing evidence that AGS is a universal regulator of asymmetric cell divisions in embryos.
Coming to Grips With Growth in the West: Traditional Communities, Free Rivers, and the New Megalopolises

Part of the Administrative Law Commons, Energy Policy Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Law Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, Growth and Development Commons, Hydraulic Engineering Commons, Hydrology Commons, Land Use Planning Commons, Natural Resources Law Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Public Policy Commons, State and Local Government Law Commons, Water Law Commons, and the Water Resource Management Commons
BeTL: MapReduce Checkpoint Tactics Beneath the Task Level

Big data analysis has gained significant popularity within the last few years. The MapReduce framework presented by Google makes it easier to write applications that process vast amount of data. MapReduce targets at large commodity clusters where failures are not exceptions. However, Hadoop, the most popular implementation of MapReduce performs poorly under failures. Hadoop implements the fault tolerance strategy at the task level, as a result, a task failure will require a re-execution of the whole task regardless of how much input has already been processed. In this paper, we present BeTL which introduces slight changes to the execution flow of MapReduce, and makes it possible to gain a finer-grained fault tolerance. Map tasks can create checkpoints so that a retrying task doesn't have to start from scratch and thus saves much time. Speculation strategy can also benefit from this. The new execution flow involves less IO operations and performs better than Hadoop even under no failures. In our experiments, BeTL outperforms Hadoop by 6.6 percent on average under no failures and 4.6 to 51.0 percent under different failure densities.
Isolation and Properties of the Complex between the Enhancer Binding Protein NIFA and the Sensor NIFL

ABSTRACT In Azotobacter vinelandii, activation ofnif gene expression by the transcriptional regulatory enhancer binding protein NIFA is controlled by the sensor protein NIFL in response to changes in levels of oxygen and fixed nitrogen in vivo. NIFL is a novel redox-sensing flavoprotein which is also responsive to adenosine nucleotides in vitro. Inhibition of NIFA activity by NIFL requires stoichiometric amounts of the two proteins, implying that the mechanism of inhibition is by direct protein-protein interaction rather than by catalytic modification of the NIFA protein. The formation of the inhibitory complex between NIFL and NIFA may be regulated by the intracellular ATP/ADP ratio. We show that adenosine nucleotides promote complex formation between purified NIFA and NIFL in vitro, allowing isolation of the NIFL-NIFA complex. The complex can also be isolated from cell extracts containing coexpressed NIFL and NIFA in the presence of MgADP. Removal of the nucleotide causes dissociation of the complex. Experiments with truncated proteins demonstrate that the amino-terminal domain of NIFA and the C-terminal region of NIFL potentiate the ADP-dependent stimulation of NIFL-NIFA complex formation.
A low-cost CMOS time interval measurement core

A low-cost time interval measurement circuit with 0.5 ns measurable period is implemented in 0.35 /spl mu/m 2P4M CMOS technology; the architecture is based on dual-slope method. The main purpose is not only concentrated on the time-interval measurement, but also the setup/hold time measurement of registers. The resolution of the proposed work is 1/16 clock period and can be extended to higher precision. In order to improve the minimal measurable time period, a settling time canceling method is proposed to force the charging procedure operated in linear region. The offset voltage of operational amplifier is also considered. The calibration of the measured results could be done easily by digital circuits.
Terated sparse reconstruction for activity estimation in nuclear spectroscopy

The aim of nuclear spectroscopy is to provide as many information as possible regarding the activity and the content of an unknown radioactive source. Due to some random perturbations called pileup phenomenon, electrical pulses recorded by the spectrometric apparatus may overlap. Recent developments in compressive sensing and sparse signal reconstruction allow us to build efficient algorithms for the estimation of the activity. We suggest in this paper an iterative algorithm which improves this estimation. This algorithm is based on successive sparse approximations of the residual signal with a slowly decreasing sparsity parameter, so that at each step pulses with smaller amplitude are detected. The algorithm is detailed and its performances compared to other methods based on sparse reconstruction. Results show that the proposed approach perform better than the state-of-the-art methods, and emphasize the usefulness of the iterative scheme.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Antisocial Process Screening Device

The main aim of the present study was to examine the factor structure, internal consistency, and some additional psychometric properties of the Antisocial Process Screening Device–Self-Report (APSD-SR) among a large forensic sample of incarcerated male juvenile offenders (N = 438). The results, based on this forensic sample, support the use of the APSD-SR in terms of its factor structure, and internal consistency despite the fact an item had to be removed from the callous-unemotional (CU) dimension. Statistically significant positive associations were found with measures of psychopathic traits, CU traits, narcissism, and aggression, as well as negative associations with a measure of empathy. Findings provide support for the use of the APSD-SR among the incarcerated male juvenile offender population.
Formulation and in vitro release evaluation of newly synthesized palm kernel oil esters-based nanoemulsion delivery system for 30% ethanolic dried extract derived from local Phyllanthus urinaria for skin antiaging

Background Recently there has been a remarkable surge of interest about natural products and their applications in the cosmetic industry. Topical delivery of antioxidants from natural sources is one of the approaches used to reverse signs of skin aging. The aim of this research was to develop a nanoemulsion cream for topical delivery of 30% ethanolic extract derived from local Phyllanthus urinaria (P. urinaria) for skin antiaging. Methods Palm kernel oil esters (PKOEs)-based nanoemulsions were loaded with P. urinaria extract using a spontaneous method and characterized with respect to particle size, zeta potential, and rheological properties. The release profile of the extract was evaluated using in vitro Franz diffusion cells from an artificial membrane and the antioxidant activity of the extract released was evaluated using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Results Formulation F12 consisted of wt/wt, 0.05% P. urinaria extract, 1% cetyl alcohol, 0.5% glyceryl monostearate, 12% PKOEs, and 27% Tween® 80/Span® 80 (9/1) with a hydrophilic lipophilic balance of 13.9, and a 59.5% phosphate buffer system at pH 7.4. Formulation F36 was comprised of 0.05% P. urinaria extract, 1% cetyl alcohol, 1% glyceryl monostearate, 14% PKOEs, 28% Tween® 80/Span® 80 (9/1) with a hydrophilic lipophilic balance of 13.9, and 56% phosphate buffer system at pH 7.4 with shear thinning and thixotropy. The droplet size of F12 and F36 was 30.74 nm and 35.71 nm, respectively, and their nanosizes were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy images. Thereafter, 51.30% and 51.02% of the loaded extract was released from F12 and F36 through an artificial cellulose membrane, scavenging 29.89% and 30.05% of DPPH radical activity, respectively. Conclusion The P. urinaria extract was successfully incorporated into a PKOEs-based nanoemulsion delivery system. In vitro release of the extract from the formulations showed DPPH radical scavenging activity. These formulations can neutralize reactive oxygen species and counteract oxidative injury induced by ultraviolet radiation and thereby ameliorate skin aging.
Assessing the Water Footprint of Wheat and Maize in Haihe River Basin, Northern China (1956–2015)

Assessing the water footprint (WF) of crops is key to understanding the agricultural water consumption and improving water use efficiency. This study assessed the WF of wheat and maize in the Haihe River Basin (HRB) of Northern China over the period1956–2015, including rain-fed, sufficient, and insufficient irrigation conditions by different irrigation intensity to understand the agricultural water use status. The major findings are as follows: (1) The annual average total WF of wheat and maize production is 20.1 (52% green, 29% blue, and 19% grey) and 15.1 (73% green, 3% blue, and 24% grey) billion m3 year−1, respectively. The proportion of grey WF is much larger than the world average; (2) Wheat has larger unit WF (1580 m3 t−1) than maize (1275 m3 t−1). The unit WF of both wheat and maize shows exponentially decreasing trends, indicating that water use efficiency has been improved. The unit WF is heterogeneous in space, which is larger in Tianjin and Huanghua and smaller in the Southern HRB; (3) Rain-fed crops have the largest unit WF, followed by crops under insufficient and sufficient irrigation conditions for both wheat and maize. To improve the sustainability of water resources, the application of fertilizer must be reduced, and irrigation is an effective way to improve water use efficiency in water-abundant areas.
Sequential Production of Alpha and Beta Interferons and Gamma Interferon in the Circulation of Listeria monocytogenes‐Infected Mice after Stimulation with Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide

Sequential production of interferon (IFN)‐α/β and IFN‐γ in the circulation of mice which had been previously infected with viable Listeria monocytogenes was induced by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from Salmonella typhimurium. IFN‐α/β production occurred 2 hr after injection of LPS, thereafter IFN‐γ appeared and the maximum titer was demonstrated at 6 hr. At that time, almost all of the IFN was IFN‐γ. IFN‐γ production in response to LPS was observed from the 5th through the 11th day after infection with Listeria, but it was not demonstrated in either mice infected with lower doses of viable Listeria or mice immunized with heat‐killed bacteria. IFN‐α/β production was not drastically affected by treatment with hydrocortisone, cyclophosphamide, carrageenan, antithymocyte serum, or anti‐asialo GM1 antibody, whereas IFN‐γ production was suppressed by administration of all those agents. Noteworthily, IFN‐α/β, but not IFN‐γ, was produced even 6 hr after stimulation with LPS in cyclophosphamide‐ or antithymocyte serum‐treated mice. IFN‐γ induction by LPS was markedly suppressed in mice in which IFN‐α/β produced by Listeria infection itself had been depleted by treatment with anti‐mouse IFN‐α/β antibody, but it was not inhibited in mice when IFN‐α/β induced not by Listeria infection but by LPS had been depleted by treatment with anti‐mouse IFN‐α/β antibody.
Superresolution for UAV Images via Adaptive Multiple Sparse Representation and Its Application to 3-D Reconstruction

We propose a superresolution (SR) algorithm based on adaptive sparse representation via multiple dictionaries for images taken by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The SR attainable through the proposed algorithm can increase the precision of 3-D reconstruction from UAV images, enabling the production of high-resolution images for constructing high-frequency time series and for high-precision digital mapping in agriculture. The basic idea of the proposed method is to use a field server or ground-based camera to take training images and then construct multiple pairs of dictionaries based on selective sparse representations to reduce instability during the sparse coding process. The dictionaries are classified on the basis of the edge orientation into five clusters: 0, 45, 90, 135, and nondirection. The proposed method is expected to reduce blurring, blocking, and ringing artifacts especially in edge areas. We evaluated the proposed and previous methods using peak signal-to-noise ratio, structural similarity, feature similarity, and computation time. Our experimental results indicate that the proposed method clearly outperforms other state-of-the-art algorithms based on qualitative and quantitative analysis. In the end, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method to increase the precision of 3-D reconstruction from UAV images.
Formation of hydrogen gas and alkane during peridotite serpentinization

Serpentinization potentially contributes to the origin and evolution of life during early history of Earth and other planets, indicated by biological activities in hydrothermal fields those are supplied with hydrogen gas, alkanes and organic acids produced during serpentinization. Previous studies have been investigated on olivine serpentinization, and temperatures and pressures were very limited (<= 300 degrees C, 500bar). Here, we performed a series of hydrothermal experiments at 300 similar to 500 degrees C and 1 similar to 3kbar to explore the formation of hydrogen gas and alkanes during serpentinization of olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, peridotite, basalt, and mixtures of peridotite and basalt. At 300 degrees C and 3kbar, the quantity of hydrogen gas after olivine serpentinization is much higher than that after pyroxene alteration. As temperatures increase, e. g. , at 400 similar to 500 degrees C and 3kbar, the amount of hydrogen gas after olivine alteration is much lower due to its sluggish alteration rate, which is slightly less than that after orthopyroxene serpentinization. Clinopyroxene is completely unaltered after experiments, and therefore no hydrogen gas and alkanes are produced. Compared to peridotite, the quantity of hydrogen gas after olivine and orthopyroxene at 400 similar to 500 degrees C is identical, while the amounts of alkanes are much less. The quantities of hydrogen gas and alkane during basalt alteration are comparable with those after hydration of mixtures of basalt and peridotite, but they are much lower than those after peridotite alteration. This is mainly due to production of Fe2+ -rich diopside (similar to 8. 1% FeO) after basalt alteration, which dramatically reduces the amount of Fe3+ and consequently hydrogen gas. This study suggests that olivine and pyroxene cannot completely represent peridotite for the formation of hydrogen gas and alkanes during serpentinization. Moreover, hydrogen gas and alkane are produced not only after serpentinization of abyssal peridotite, which could be also formed during hydration of oceanic crust in subduction zones. However, the amounts of hydrogen and alkane during hydration of oceanic crust should be very low due to incorporation of basalt.
Clustering very large databases using EM mixture models

Clustering very large databases is a challenge for traditional pattern recognition algorithms, e.g. the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm for fitting mixture models, because of high memory and iteration requirements. Over large databases, the cost of the numerous scans required to converge and large memory requirement of the algorithm becomes prohibitive. We present a decomposition of the EM algorithm requiring a small amount of memory by limiting iterations to small data subsets. The scalable EM approach requires at most one database scan and is based on identifying regions of the data that are discardable, regions that are compressible, and regions that must be maintained in memory. Data resolution is preserved to the extent possible based upon the size of the memory buffer and fit of the current model to the data. Computational tests demonstrate that the scalable scheme outperforms similarly constrained EM approaches.
An entropy based heuristic model for predicting functional sub-type divisions of protein families

Multiple sequence alignments of protein families are often used for locating residues that are widely apart in the sequence, which are considered as influential for determining functional specificity of proteins towards various substrates, ligands, DNA and other proteins. In this paper, we propose an entropy-score based heuristic algorithm model for predicting functional sub-family divisions of protein families, given the multiple sequence alignment of the protein family as input without any functional sub-type or key site information given for any protein sequence. Two of the experimented test-cases are reported in this paper. First test-case is Nucleotidyl Cyclase protein family consisting of guanalyate and adenylate cyclases. And the second test-case is a dataset of proteins taken from six superfamilies in Structure-Function Linkage Database (SFLD). Results from these test-cases are reported in terms of confirmed sub-type divisions with phylogeny relations from former studies in the literature.
Fastron: An Online Learning-Based Model and Active Learning Strategy for Proxy Collision Detection

We introduce the Fastron, a configuration space (C-space) model to be used as a proxy to kinematic-based collision detection. The Fastron allows iterative updates to account for a changing environment through a combination of a novel formulation of the kernel perceptron learning algorithm and an active learning strategy. Our simulations on a 7 degree-of-freedom arm indicate that proxy collision checks may be performed at least 2 times faster than an efficient polyhedral collision checker and at least 8 times faster than an efficient high-precision collision checker. The Fastron model provides conservative collision status predictions by padding C-space obstacles, and proxy collision checking time does not scale poorly as the number of workspace obstacles increases. All results were achieved without GPU acceleration or parallel computing.
A critical survey on marsupial robotic teams for environmental monitoring of water bodies

A robust maintenance of ecosystems demands for highly accurate and frequent monitoring of their status. The extension and remoteness of some environments renders their human-based monitoring extremely difficult. Riverine environments are a notorious example, as their sampling requires to bear into account both streams and riverbanks. The relevance of monitoring riverine environments is magnified by the intricate interactions that occur between river waters and coastal waters. This article provides a critical survey of existing solutions using robots for environmental monitoring of water bodies. Based on the survey, this article argues that autonomous robotic marsupial systems are especially adequate for the tasks at hand. Lessons learned, as well as future avenues on the application of marsupial robotic teams to environmental monitoring, are laid out in this article.
QCloud: A cloud-based quality control system for mass spectrometry-based proteomics laboratories

The increasing number of biomedical and translational applications in mass spectrometry-based proteomics poses new analytical challenges and raises the need for automated quality control systems. Despite previous efforts to set standard file formats, data processing workflows and key evaluation parameters for quality control, automated quality control systems are not yet widespread among proteomics laboratories, which limits the acquisition of high-quality results, inter-laboratory comparisons and the assessment of variability of instrumental platforms. Here we present QCloud, a cloud-based system to support proteomics laboratories in daily quality assessment using a user-friendly interface, easy setup, automated data processing and archiving, and unbiased instrument evaluation. QCloud supports the most common targeted and untargeted proteomics workflows, it accepts data formats from different vendors and it enables the annotation of acquired data and reporting incidences. A complete version of the QCloud system has successfully been developed and it is now open to the proteomics community (http://qcloud.crg.eu). QCloud system is an open source project, publicly available under a Creative Commons License Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0.