Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased Expression of the Dyslexia Candidate Gene DCDC2 Affects Length and Signaling of Primary Cilia in Neurons

DCDC2 is one of the candidate susceptibility genes for dyslexia. It belongs to the superfamily of doublecortin domain containing proteins that bind to microtubules, and it has been shown to be involved in neuronal migration. We show that the Dcdc2 protein localizes to the primary cilium in primary rat hippocampal neurons and that it can be found within close proximity to the ciliary kinesin-2 subunit Kif3a. Overexpression of DCDC2 increases ciliary length and activates Shh signaling, whereas downregulation of Dcdc2 expression enhances Wnt signaling, consistent with a functional role in ciliary signaling. Moreover, DCDC2 overexpression in C. elegans causes an abnormal neuronal phenotype that can only be seen in ciliated neurons. Together our results suggest a potential role for DCDC2 in the structure and function of primary cilia.
The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Epipremnum aureum and its comparative analysis among eight Araceae species

Epipremnum aureum is an important foliage plant in the Araceae family. In this study, we have sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of E. aureum by using Illumina Hiseq sequencing platforms. This genome is a double-stranded circular DNA sequence of 164,831 bp that contains 35.8% GC. The two inverted repeats (IRa and IRb; 26,606 bp) are spaced by a small single-copy region (22,868 bp) and a large single-copy region (88,751 bp). The chloroplast genome has 131 (113 unique) functional genes, including 86 (79 unique) protein-coding genes, 37 (30 unique) tRNA genes, and eight (four unique) rRNA genes. Tandem repeats comprise the majority of the 43 long repetitive sequences. In addition, 111 simple sequence repeats are present, with mononucleotides being the most common type and di- and tetranucleotides being infrequent events. Positive selection pressure on rps12 in the E. aureum chloroplast has been demonstrated via synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution rates and selection pressure sites analyses. Ycf15 and infA are pseudogenes in this species. We constructed a Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree based on the complete chloroplast genomes of 38 species from 13 families. Those results strongly indicated that E. aureum is positioned as the sister of Colocasia esculenta within the Araceae family. This work may provide information for further study of the molecular phylogenetic relationships within Araceae, as well as molecular markers and breeding novel varieties by chloroplast genetic-transformation of E. aureum in particular.
Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Bibliotherapy: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE This randomized controlled investigation examined the effectiveness of a self-help bibliotherapy format of the evidence-based mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention. METHOD College students seeking stress reduction were randomly assigned to a 10-week MBSR bibliotherapy intervention group (n = 47) or a no-treatment control group (n = 45). Self-report measures were collected at baseline and postintervention. RESULTS A total of 25 bibliotherapy and 43 control group participants provided final data following the intervention period. Compared to the control group, bibliotherapy participants reported increased mindfulness following the intervention. Significant decreases on measures of depression, anxiety, stress, perceived stress, and anxiety sensitivity also were reported postintervention as well as increased quality of life in physical health, psychological, and environmental domains. No statistically significant group effects were found for social relationships quality of life domain, worry, and experiential avoidance measures. CONCLUSION This MBSR workbook may provide an acceptable and effective alternative for motivated individuals seeking to reduce stress, at least for a select group of individuals who are willing and able to sustain participation in the intervention.
The Visual Interactive Programing Learning System Using Image Processing

It is crucial to learn programing for the software engineers, but it is difficult to master programing skills, because conventional learning programing is learning programing language grammar which is necessary but isn't efficient for students to acquire the skills to write complicate and long programs. To solve the program, we propose the visual interactive programming learning system using image processing. The system ask the students to write the programs that output the indicated figures. And the system compare the correct figures with the student's program output figures using image processing, and the system judges that students' programs are correct or not. The system can also find the wrong parts of student's programs using plural pairs of output images. Furthermore the system can judge moving output images. We developed the system and we verified the system using experiments.
Default mode network subsystem alterations in obsessive–compulsive disorder

Background Although neurobiological models of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) traditionally emphasise the central role of corticostriatal brain regions, studies of default mode network integrity have garnered increasing interest, but have produced conflicting results. Aims To resolve these discrepant findings by examining the integrity of default mode network subsystems in OCD. Method Comparison of seed-based resting-state functional connectivity of 11 default mode network components between 46 patients with OCD and 46 controls using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results Significantly reduced connectivity within the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex self subsystem was identified in the OCD group, and remained significant after controlling for medication status and life-time history of affective disorders. Further, greater connectivity between the self subsystem and salience and attention networks was observed. Conclusions Results indicate that people with OCD show abnormalities in a neural system previously associated with self-referential processing in healthy individuals, and suggest the need for examination of dynamic interactions between this default mode network subsystem and other large-scale networks in this disorder.
Faster‐X evolution: Theory and evidence from Drosophila

A faster rate of adaptive evolution of X‐linked genes compared with autosomal genes can be caused by the fixation of recessive or partially recessive advantageous mutations, due to the full expression of X‐linked mutations in hemizygous males. Other processes, including recombination rate and mutation rate differences between X chromosomes and autosomes, may also cause faster evolution of X‐linked genes. We review population genetics theory concerning the expected relative values of variability and rates of evolution of X‐linked and autosomal DNA sequences. The theoretical predictions are compared with data from population genomic studies of several species of Drosophila. We conclude that there is evidence for adaptive faster‐X evolution of several classes of functionally significant nucleotides. We also find evidence for potential differences in mutation rates between X‐linked and autosomal genes, due to differences in mutational bias towards GC to AT mutations. Many aspects of the data are consistent with the male hemizygosity model, although not all possible confounding factors can be excluded.
Robust-Adaptive synchronization of drive and response systems using coupled chaotic adaptive synchronous observers

In this paper, robust-adaptive control methodology is developed by augmenting the a-modification as well as the use of filters with already established control scheme based on nonlinear and adaptive coupled chaotic adaptive Synchronous observers for synchronization of the nonlinear drive and response systems, by the same authors. The purpose of this amendment is to develop an adaptive control scheme capable of synchronizing two nonlinear systems even impelled by the disturbances and noises. The effect of disturbances and effect of noise reduces the efficacy of previously proposed control methodology. The a-modification facilitates the adaptation of unknown parameters with bounds in the divergence of their values and thus enhances the robustness in adaptive control scheme. Along with the disturbance rejection by a-modification, the effect of noise in output measurement is catered by the use of low pass filters. The authenticity of proposed amendments is validated by simulation of synchronization of FitzHugh-Nagumo neural drive and response system under the effect of disturbances and noise.
DEPOSIT : une approche pour exprimer et déployer des politiques de collecte sur des infrastructures de capteurs hétérogènes et partagées. (DEPOSIT : an approach to model and deploy data collection policies on heterogeneous and shared sensor networks)

Les reseaux de capteurs sont utilises dans l’IoT pour collecter des donnees. Cependant, une expertise envers les reseaux de capteurs est requise pour interagir avec ces infrastructures. Pour un ingenieur logiciel, cibler de tels systemes est difficile. Les specifications des plateformes composant l'infrastructure de capteurs les obligent a travailler a un bas niveau d'abstraction et a utiliser des plateformes heterogenes. Cette fastidieuse activite peut conduire a un code exploitant de maniere non optimisee l’infrastructure. En etant specifiques a une infrastructure, ces applications ne peuvent egalement pas etre reutilisees facilement vers d’autres infrastructures. De plus, le deploiement de ces applications est hors du champ de competences d’un ingenieur logiciel car il doit identifier la ou les plateforme(s) requise(s) pour supporter l’application. Enfin, l’architecture peut ne pas etre concue pour supporter l’execution simultanee d’application, engendrant des deploiements redondants lorsqu’une nouvelle application est identifiee. Dans cette these, nous presentons une approche qui supporte (i) la definition de politiques de collecte de donnees a haut niveau d’abstraction et reutilisables, (ii) leur deploiement sur une infrastructure heterogene dirigee par des modeles apportes par des experts reseau et (iii) la composition automatique de politiques sur des infrastructures heterogenes. De ces contributions, un ingenieur peut des lors manipuler un reseau de capteurs sans en connaitre les details, en reutilisant des abstractions architecturales disponibles lors de l'expression des politiques, des politiques qui pourront egalement coexister au sein d'un meme reseau.
Stochastic Evolution Equations for Large Portfolios of Stochastic Volatility Models

We consider a large market model of defaultable assets in which the asset price processes are modelled as Heston-type stochastic volatility models with default upon hitting a lower boundary. We assume that both the asset prices and their volatilities are correlated through systemic Brownian motions. We are interested in the loss process that arises in this setting and we prove the existence of a large portfolio limit for the empirical measure process of this system. This limit evolves as a measure valued process and we show that it will have a density given in terms of a solution to a stochastic partial differential equation of filtering type in the two-dimensional half-space, with a Dirichlet boundary condition. We employ Malliavin calculus to establish the existence of a regular density for the volatility component, and an approximation by models of piecewise constant volatilities combined with a kernel smoothing technique to obtain existence and regularity for the full two-dimensional filtering problem. We are able to establish good regularity properties for solutions, however uniqueness remains an open problem.
Piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers array based on is mode polarization method

Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (PMUT) is a device used in many application such as medical diagnostic, medical acoustic imagine and underwater acoustic applications. Latest research, PMUT is investigated in marine application and underwater acoustic imaging. The important factor in underwater acoustic imaging is the image can capture very clear visibility. The acoustic transducer is very important to make sure that the acoustic signal obtained has good sensitivity and wide operation bandwidth. Conventional underwater acoustic transducer used sandwich method. Then a latest researcher is investigated the microscale transducer called piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers to increase the performance of acoustic transducers. The conventional PMUT is still has limitation in sensitivity and bandwidth. The investigation of PMUT array based d33 mode polarization will improved the sensitivity of PMUT transducer. The fabrication of PMUT array based d33 mode polarization is simple fabrication. Experimental setup is used pulse-echo method to characterize the sensitivity of acoustic transducer inside water. The open circuit receiving voltage (OCRV) is obtaining the receiving signal from acoustic transmitter. The PMUT array based d33 mode polarization shows it has more sensitive compare the conventional ultrasonic transducer. The design transducer has sensitivity at −56 dB re 1V/μPa at 100kHz and fractional bandwidth at 30%.
Preparation and Properties of Silver Nanoparticles by Heat-combined Electrochemical Method

Silver nanoparticles colloid has been prepared by heat-combined electrochemical method, which uses simple and low-cost equipment of easy installation and operation, is easily deployed in industrial scale. A silver plate was used as the cathode instead of silver salts to avoid unexpected ions from the salts. The cathode was made from a stainless steel plate. The chemical used as the electrolyte solution is TriSodium Citrate (TSC). Silver nanoparticles made by the above method are spherical, small-sized, its size distribution ranges from 3-12nm, stably dispersing in a non-toxic solution. Bactericidal capacity of silver nanoparticles are tested on 4 types of common bacteria and fungi. The results showed that silver nanoparticles with a concentration of 10 ppm have a good bactericidal capacity against the said bacteria. This result shows that silver nanoparticles made by heat-combined electrochemical method can be used in antibacterial applications.
Microservices Architecture in DevOps

This doctoral research proposal is designed to address the challenges on employing microservices architecture (MSA) in DevOps. These two practices are relatively recent trends on the crowded street of software engineering paradigms. We believe that the coexistence of these practices may bring new challenges for architects about making and implementing decisions of microservices in DevOps. We plan to gain a deep understanding of the challenges/solutions, architecture description, migration, refactoring, and evolution in MSA with DevOps. Our expected outcome would be: (i) a systematic mapping study on MSA in DevOps, (ii) an evidence based framework for synthesizing MSA challenges/solutions in DevOps, (iii) recommendations for documenting MSA in DevOps based on industrial practices, (iv) a migration process from monolithic applications/architecture to MSA in DevOps, and (v) empirical reports on MSA refactoring and evolution in DevOps.
Zika virus: a new threat to the safety of the blood supply with worldwide impact and implications

A n emerging pathogen is an infectious agent that was previously unknown or whose geographic range or virulence has expanded. Zika virus (ZIKV) qualifies as the latest emerging virus impacting the human population, with major implications for blood safety and availability. Here we review historical and recent outbreaks of ZIKV and consider the response of transfusion medicine experts to the current explosive ZIKV epidemic, in light of recent efforts to define processes and criteria for emerging infectious disease risk assessment and response measures related to blood safety.
Bacterial Adaptation to Antibiotics through Regulatory RNAs

ABSTRACT The extensive use of antibiotics has resulted in a situation where multidrug-resistant pathogens have become a severe menace to human health worldwide. A deeper understanding of the principles used by pathogens to adapt to, respond to, and resist antibiotics would pave the road to the discovery of drugs with novel mechanisms. For bacteria, antibiotics represent clinically relevant stresses that induce protective responses. The recent implication of regulatory RNAs (small RNAs [sRNAs]) in antibiotic response and resistance in several bacterial pathogens suggests that they should be considered innovative drug targets. This minireview discusses sRNA-mediated mechanisms exploited by bacterial pathogens to fight against antibiotics. A critical discussion of the newest findings in the field is provided, with emphasis on the implication of sRNAs in major mechanisms leading to antibiotic resistance, including drug uptake, active drug efflux, drug target modifications, biofilms, cell walls, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. Of interest is the lack of knowledge about sRNAs implicated in Gram-positive compared to Gram-negative bacterial resistance.
Subsets of activated monocytes and markers of inflammation in incipient and progressed multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune mediated, inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Substantial evidence points toward monocytes and macrophages playing prominent roles early in disease, mediating both pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory responses. Monocytes are subdivided into three subsets depending on the expression of CD14 and CD16, representing different stages of inflammatory activation. To investigate their involvement in MS, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 40 patients with incipient or progressed MS and 20 healthy controls were characterized ex vivo. In MS samples, we demonstrate a highly significant increase in nonclassical monocytes (CD14+CD16++), with a concomitant significant reduction in classical monocytes (CD14++CD16−) compared with healthy controls. Also, a significant reduction in the surface expression of CD40, CD163, and CD192 was found, attributable to the upregulation of the nonclassical monocytes. In addition, significantly increased levels of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) envelope (Env) epitopes, encoded by both HERV‐H/F and HERV‐W, were specifically found on nonclassical monocytes from patients with MS; emphasizing their involvement in MS disease. In parallel, serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were analyzed for soluble biomarkers of inflammation and neurodegeneration. For sCD163 versus CD163, no significant correlations were found, whereas highly significant correlations between levels of soluble neopterine and the intermediate monocyte (CD14++CD16+) population was found, as were correlations between levels of soluble osteopontin and the HERV Env expression on nonclassical monocytes. The results from this study emphasize the relevance of further focus on monocyte subsets, particularly the nonclassical monocytes in monitoring of inflammatory diseases.
Ultra-fast fibre laser systems based on SESAM technology: new horizons and applications

A promising route to manufacturing portable (sub-)picosecond fibre lasers is to use a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM). With SESAMs, the mode-locked regime can be achieved for different values of cavity dispersion for a broad spectrum ranging from 0.8 to 1.6 μm. The fibre lasers, characterized by a high efficiency and reliability and a small footprint, are very attractive for applications traditionally occupied by solid-state lasers. The broad fluorescence spectrum makes different fibre gain media attractive for tuneable and ultra-short-pulse sources. In this paper, we discuss recent advances in ultra-fast fibre lasers. We study the fundamental properties and technical challenges of mode-locked fibre lasers operating in the 0.9–1.6 μm range, and the methods to achieve high peak-powers from all-fibre devices. The key component is the SESAM, notably, a dilute nitride SESAM. The SESAM supplies a strong mechanism for picosecond pulse generation that is entirely self-starting for a wide range of cavity dispersion and ensures stability against Q-switched mode-locking. In particular, compact mode-locked lasers stabilized by near-resonant SESAMs can be realized in a short fibre cavity free from any dispersion compensator. An appropriate dispersion delay line at the output of the master source may be used for pulse clean-up. The high-quality pulses obtained can then be compressed using traditional methods, when the pulse first undergoes spectral enrichment via self-phase modulation in an auxiliary fibre and then gets compressed in a grating pair. The fibre laser is capable of efficient wavelength conversion via second harmonic generation in non-linear crystals. Using a periodically poled LiNbO3 crystal for frequency doubling, we produce sub-100 fs pulses at 0.8 μm with a 50% conversion efficiency.
Calibration improvements for MODIS and VIIRS SWIR spectral bands

Both MODIS and VIIRS use a solar diffuser (SD) to calibrate their reflective solar bands (RSB), covering wavelengths from 0.41 to 2.3 μm. On-orbit changes of the SD bi-directional reflectance factor (BRF) are tracked by an on-board solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM). The current SDSM design only covers the spectral range from 0.41 to 0.93 μm. In general, the SD degradation is strongly wavelength-dependent with larger degradation occurring at shorter wavelengths, and the degradation in the SWIR region is expected to be extremely small. As each mission continues, however, the impact due to SD degradation at SWIR needs to be carefully examined and the correction if necessary should be applied in order to maintain the calibration quality. For Terra MODIS, alternative approaches have been developed and used to estimate the SD degradation for its band 5 at 1.24 μm and a time-dependent correction has already been applied to the current level 1B (L1B) collection 6 (C6). In this paper, we present different methodologies that can be used to examine the SD degradation and their applications for both Terra and Aqua MODIS and S-NPP VIIRS SWIR calibration. These methodologies include but not limited to the use of lunar observations, Pseudo Invariant Calibration Sites (PICS), and deep convective clouds (DCC). A brief description of relative approaches and their use is also provided in this paper.