Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mode of morphological differentiation in the Latitarsi-ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) of the world inferred from a phylogenetic tree of mitochondrial ND5 gene sequences.

The Latitarsi is one large division of the subtribe Carabina (subfamily Carabinae, family Carabidae), and has been considered as a discrete morphological group consisting of 17 genera. The phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary pattern of the Latitarsi ground beetles have been investigated by analyzing mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (ND5) gene sequences. The phylogenetic tree suggests that the Latitarsi members do not form a single cluster, i.e., not monophyletic and at least 16 lineages belonging to the so-called Latitarsi emerged at about the same time of the Carabina radiation together with the members of other divisions. This suggests that these lineages (A, B, C, H, L, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W and X in Fig. 2a) may be treated each as a phylogenetically distinct division equivalent to other divisions. The group with bootstrap value of more than 80 percent has been considered as a single lineage (division) with two exceptions, V and X. The independency of each lineage has been assumed by the traditional morphology as well as a single clustering on the trees constructed by independent methods, unchanged topology by replacement of outgroups, etc. Generally speaking, the members in a single lineage are geographically linked. Many phylogenetic lineages are composed of a single or only a few species without conspicuous morphological differentiation. In contrast to such a "silent morphological evolution", a remarkable morphological differentiation occasionally took place in several lineages.
Efficacy evaluation of commercial disinfectants by using Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium as a test organism

The efficacies of six commercial disinfectants were evaluated by using Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium under simulated natural conditions such as sub-zero temperature, short disinfecting time, and surface type (uneven or smooth). We used a suspensionmodel test to determine the disinfecting efficacy under varying contact times (1, 5, 10, and 30 min) and temperatures (25℃, 4℃, 0℃, and −10℃). The bactericidal effect according to surface structure was measured by using a carriermodel test at 25℃ and −10℃. The effective concentrations of each disinfectant were fixed to give a disinfecting effect within a short time (< 1 min) at 25℃ and −10℃. The suspension model results revealed that bactericidal efficacy significantly dropped at low temperature for most of the disinfectants used; a sodium dichloroisocyanurate product showed the strongest efficacy. In the carrier test, bacterial load on a wooden surface was more difficult to remove than that on a stainless-steel surface. The results show that commercial disinfectant products vary in their disinfecting efficacy, which is affected by several field factors including temperature, contact time, and carrier material. Environmental conditions and surface type for disinfection should be considered prior to selecting an optimal disinfectant in the field.
Rapid Identification of Yeasts in Positive Blood Cultures by a Multiplex PCR Method

ABSTRACT Yeasts are emerging as important etiological agents of nosocomial bloodstream infections. A multiplex PCR method was developed to rapidly identify clinically important yeasts that cause fungemia. The method amplified the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region between the 18S and 5.8S rRNA genes and a specific DNA fragment within the ITS2 region of Candidaalbicans. With this method, C. albicans produced two amplicons, whereas other species produced only one. Through sequence analysis, the precise lengths of the PCR products were found to be as follows: C. glabrata (482 or 483 bp), C. guilliermondii (248 bp),C. parapsilosis (229 bp),C. albicans (218 or 219 and 110 bp), C. tropicalis (218 bp), Cryptococcusneoformans (201 bp), and C. krusei (182 bp). The PCR products could be effectively separated by disk polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The method was used to test 249 positive blood cultures (255 isolates), from which the following species (strain number) were isolated: C. albicans (128),C. tropicalis (51), C.glabrata (28), C.parapsilosis (23), C.neoformans (9), C.krusei (5), C.guilliermondii (3), and other, minor species (8). The test sensitivity of the method was 96.9% (247 of 255 isolates). The eight minor species were either misidentified (one strain) or not identified (seven strains). From the time at which a positive bottle was found, the multiplex PCR could be completed within 8 h; the present method is simpler than any previously reported molecular method for the identification of blood yeasts.
“N” structure for type-II superlattice photodetectors

In the quest to raise the operating temperature and improve the detectivity of type II superlattice (T2SL) photodetectors, we introduce a design approach that we call the “N structure. ” N structure aims to improve absorption by manipulating electron and hole wavefunctions that are spatially separated in T2SLs, increasing the absorption while decreasing the dark current. In order to engineer the wavefunctions, we introduce a thin AlSb layer between InAs and GaSb layers in the growth direction which also acts as a unipolar electron barrier. Unlike the symmetrical insertion of AlSb into GaSb layers, N design aims to exploit the shifting of the electron and hole wavefunctions under reverse bias. With cutoff wavelength of 4.3 μm at 77 K, temperature dependent dark current and detectivity measurements show that the dark current density is 3.6 × 10−9 A/cm2, under zero bias. Photodetector reaches background limited infrared photodetection (BLIP) condition at 125 K with the BLIP detectivity (D*BLIP) of 2.6 × 1010 .
Tracking for moving object using invariant moment and particle filter

In this study we used invariant moments with particle filter to track the moving object effectively in video image which is inputted continuously. At first acquiring recursively the mean value and the variance of current each image pixel, then find background image according to above values. Second, subtract adaptively the current image from background image and detect the moving object by using vertical and horizontal histogram. Because the invariant moments is not so sensitive to various transforms such as translation, rotation and scale changes, we can robustly track the moving object by observing particle filter values based on Bayesian probability of pre-distribution and post-distribution. From some experiments, we demonstrate that invariant moment method with particle filter which is suggested above shows better tracking performances than the method of using particle filter only.
Lumbosacral fusion using internal fixation with a spinous process for the graft: a review of 50 patients with a five-year maximum follow-up.

During a 5 year period 50 patients with chronic low back pain, with or without sciatica due to a proven lumbosacral disk lesion, underwent a spinal fusion using the Boucher method of screw fixation of the facet joints. The L-4 spinous process was excised and fashioned into an H-shape to act as the bone graft between the spinous processes so avoiding an iliac crest incision. Thus blood loss and operating time were substantially diminished. The screws maintain fixation for an 8-week period during which time the graft is "taking. " Being inserted with spinous processes distracted about 1 cm the screws and the graft take the load off the painful posterior part of the annulus, and in addition, the distraction of the spinous processes enlarges the intervertebral foramina by about 1 cm thus making subsequent foraminal stenosis unlikely. Loosening of the screws after incorporation of the graft was observed in some cases, but was not considered to be clinically significant. Spinal fusion using screws for internal fixation including indications and contraindications requires careful consideration of operative technique, postoperative management and complications. The clinical evolution of 86% of the patients was rated good or fair from a clinical standpoint; 86% showed a fusion; 14% demonstrated a pseudarthrosis. Three of the 7 pseudarthrotic patients had a good clinical result. The other 4 had only a fair clinical result. Nine of the 14 patients with fair clinical results had a fusion radiologically; all 7 of the clinically unimproved had a fusion. Since the graft is placed at least 1 cm dorsal to the laminae, spinal cancal stenosis is extremely unlikely.
Highly linear wideband low power current mode LNA

This paper presents design considerations for low power, highly linear current mode LNAs that can be used for wideband RF front-ends for multi-standard applications. The circuit level simulations of the proposed architecture indicate that with optimal biasing a high value of IIP3 can be obtained. A comparison of three scenarios for optimal bias is presented. Simulation results indicate that with the proposed architecture, LNAs may achieve a maximum NF of 3.6 dB with a 3 dB bandwidth larger than 10 GHz and a best case IIP3 of +17.6 dBm with 6.3 mW power consumption. The LNAs have a broadband input match of 50 Omega. The process is 90 nm CMOS and with 1.1 V supply the LNAs power consumption varies between 6.3 mW and 2.3 mW for the best and the worst case IIP3, respectively.
Behavioural adaptation to climate change among winter alpine tourists: an analysis of tourist motivations and leisure substitutability

Understanding market responses to climate change impacts has important implications for the sustainability of Australia's winter tourism destinations. Utilising a framework incorporating push–pull tourist motivations and the theory of leisure substitutability, this study sought to explore how winter tourists in Australia will adapt to changes in snow cover in Australia's alpine regions under future climate change scenarios. The results of a questionnaire completed by 231 respondents indicated that tourist motivations were related to behavioural adaptation, and that there is a general preference among the current winter market for spatial substitution in the event of poor snow. Those motivated by recreation specialisation or snow-related attributes were likely to opt for spatial substitution, while tourists motivated by self-expression and après ski activities displayed resilience to poor snow conditions. The results demonstrate a clear division between leisure-driven tourists who valued participation in sport, and experience-driven tourists, who displayed higher resilience to reduced snow under projected climate change scenarios. These results have practical implications for winter tourism destinations, both in terms of targeting experience-driven tourists in the case of reduced snow as well as the longer term sustainability and viability of winter tourism destinations.
Interleukin 4 promotes the development of ex-Foxp3 Th2 cells during immunity to intestinal helminths

Immunity to intestinal helminth infections requires the rapid activation of T helper 2 cells (Th2 cells). However, simultaneous expansion of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (T reg cells) impedes protective responses, resulting in chronic infections. The ratio between T reg and effector T cells can therefore determine the outcome of infection. The redifferentiation of T reg cells into Th cells has been identified in hyperinflammatory diseases. In this study, we asked whether ex–T reg Th2 cells develop and contribute to type-2 immunity. Using multigene reporter and fate-reporter systems, we demonstrate that a significant proportion of Th2 cells derive from Foxp3+ cells after Heligmosomoides polygyrus infection and airway allergy. Ex-Foxp3 Th2 cells exhibit characteristic Th2 effector functions and provide immunity to H. polygyrus. Through selective deletion of Il4ra on Foxp3+ cells, we further demonstrate IL-4 is required for the development of ex-Foxp3 Th2 cells. Collectively, our findings indicate that converting T reg cells into Th2 cells could concomitantly enhance Th2 cells and limit T reg cell–mediated suppression.
Explorations in an English Poetry Corpus: A Neurocognitive Poetics Perspective

This paper describes a corpus of about 3000 English literary texts with about 250 million words extracted from the Gutenberg project that span a range of genres from both fiction and non-fiction written by more than 130 authors (e.g., Darwin, Dickens, Shakespeare). Quantitative Narrative Analysis (QNA) is used to explore a cleaned subcorpus, the Gutenberg English Poetry Corpus (GEPC) which comprises over 100 poetic texts with around 2 million words from about 50 authors (e.g., Keats, Joyce, Wordsworth). Some exemplary QNA studies show author similarities based on latent semantic analysis, significant topics for each author or various text-analytic metrics for George Eliot's poem 'How Lisa Loved the King' and James Joyce's 'Chamber Music', concerning e.g. lexical diversity or sentiment analysis. The GEPC is particularly suited for research in Digital Humanities, Natural Language Processing or Neurocognitive Poetics, e.g. as training and test corpus, or for stimulus development and control.
Genotyping the Mu‐Opioid Receptor A118G Polymorphism Using the Real‐time Amplification Refractory Mutation System: Allele Frequency Distribution Among Brazilians

The mu‐opioid receptor (OPRM1) A118G polymorphism has been associated with decreased analgesic effects of opioids and predisposition to addiction. However, its role in specific clinical scenarios and in different ethnicities must be better defined. No studies evaluating the A118G polymorphism in the Brazilian population have yet been published.
Two-time scale controller design for a high speed planar parallel manipulator with structural flexibility

Summary Planar parallel manipulators, with potential applications in high speed, high acceleration tasks such as electronic component placement, would be subject to mechanical vibration due to high inertial forces acting on the linkages and other components. To achieve high throughput capability, such motion induced vibration would have to be damped quickly, to reduce settling time of the platform position and orientation. This paper develops a two-time scale dynamic model of a three-degree-of-freedom planar parallel manipulator with structurally flexible linkages. Based on the two-time scale model, a composite controller, consisting of a computed torque controller for the slow time-scale or rigid body subsystem dynamics, and a linear-quadratic state-feedback regulator for the fast time-scale flexible dynamic subsystem, is designed. Simulation results show that the composite control scheme permits the parallel manipulator platform to follow a given desired trajectory, while damping structural vibration arising due to excitation from inertial forces.
Diarrhoea in children due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Two hundred and ten cases of diarrhoea were investigated for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Sixty eight (32.4%) yielded ETEC strains, out of which fifty seven (27.0%) were LT producers and six (2.9%) were ST producers. Drug sensitivity pattern indicate the effectiveness of gentamicine, streptomycin and chloramphenicol at a higher rate. (JPMA 36: 82, 1986).
How to assess physical work-ability with Functional Capacity Evaluation methods in a more specific and efficient way?

OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper is to propose a three-step procedure that can be used in the selection of functional tests from any full Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) method in order to assess efficiently physical work-ability in workers with musculoskeletal complaints (MSC) and related functional limitations. METHODS Recently, some authors have considered the selection of functional tests specific to particular jobs from within a full FCE method. In the present study, based on existing literature and on their own expertise on FCE methods, the authors develop in an analogous manner a conceptual framework for selecting functional tests specific to particular MSCs from within a full FCE method. RESULTS The first step is to establish the worker's medical condition and to assign it to one or more defined MSC categories (upper extremity, back, lower extremity). The second step is to identify activities that are restricted by the medical condition (e.g., lifting and bending for MSC of the back). The third and final step is to select functional tests from a full FCE tests battery to permit measurement of the restricted activities identified in Step 2, striving to avoid redundancy by selecting a limited number of tests for each activity under investigation. CONCLUSIONS The proposed three-step procedure is a new approach to enhance the efficiency and practicality of FCEs.
Anti‐apoptotic activity of porcine cFLIP in ovarian granulosa cell lines

In mammalian ovaries, more than 99% of follicles undergo atresia during growth and development. Recently, we found that the expression of cellular FLICE‐like inhibitory protein long form (cFLIPL) decreased during follicular atresia in granulosa cells of porcine ovaries. In humans and other species, both the short (cFLIPS) and long (cFLIPL) forms of cFLIP are considered to function as cell survival factors that inhibit death ligand receptor‐mediated apoptosis. Since the anti‐apoptotic activity of porcine cFLIP (pcFLIP) in granulosa cells had not been determined, we examined the effect of pcFLIP on survival using granulosa‐derived cell lines. A human cervix adenocarcinoma cell line, HeLa, human ovarian granulosa tumor cell line, KGN, and porcine granulosa‐derived cell line, JC‐410, were used. By Western blotting, internal cFLIPL was detected in all cell lines, but only trace levels of cFLIPS were found in HeLa and KGN cells. To examine the anti‐apoptotic activity, pcFLIPS or pcFLIPL was overexpressed in HeLa and KGN cells. Transfected cells in which pcFLIPS or pcFLIPL was overexpressed, survived the induction of Fas‐mediated apoptosis, while almost all of the cells transfected with empty vector died. Then, we suppressed the expression of porcine cFLIPS and/or cFLIPL in JC‐410 cells using small interfering RNA (siRNA). When both cFLIPS and cFLIPL, or only cFLIPL was suppressed, cell viability declined significantly. From the results, we conclude that porcine cFLIPS and cFLIPL exhibit anti‐apoptotic activity in granulosa‐derived cells. It was strongly suggested that pcFLIP acts as a survival‐promoting factor in granulosa cells and determines whether porcine ovarian follicles survive or undergo atresia. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 1165–1170, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Accelerometry and heart rate as a measure of physical fitness: cross-validation.

PURPOSE We recently reported on a new method to assess physical fitness, based on the combined use of accelerometry and heart rate (HR) registration. This study tested the validity of the prediction formula in a group of healthy young adults. METHODS Twenty-six healthy subjects performed a maximal incremental test on a bicycle ergometer to determine VO2max. A triaxial accelerometer and a HR monitor were worn for 7 d under free-living conditions. The prediction formula developed in a previous experimental group (EXP) was applied on the cross-validation group (CV). RESULTS No difference was found in subjects' characteristics between the EXP and CV groups except for accelerometer output (activity counts). Although measured VO2max could be predicted for 80% (P < 0.0001), a paired t-test showed a significant difference between measured and predicted VO2max (178 mL.min(-1); P = 0.015). Because of the difference in activity between the EXP and the CV groups, all data were combined and sorted according to activity counts, then two new groups were formed. As a result, EXP and CV groups were created that did not significantly differ in activity or any other parameters. The formula developed in the new experimental group (R2 = 0.74; P < 0.0001) explained 72% (P < 0.0001) of the variation in VO2max in the cross-validation group, a paired t-test showed no difference between measured and predicted VO2max, and Bland-Altman plotting showed no systematic bias. CONCLUSION Although a good correlation was seen between measured and predicted VO2max in the cross-validation group, care should be taken in applying the prediction formula on groups that differ in physical activity from the current study population.
Supporting In-Service Teachers' Professional Teaching Knowledge With Educatively Scaffolded Digital Curriculum

This article advances a continuing line of inquiry into the potential of digital educative curriculum materials to support teachers’ development of professional teaching knowledge. Instead of standalone levers of change, the educative curricula in this study were featured resources within a novel professional development approach. The qualitative, design-based research experiment asked, “Can sustained, collaborative professional development experiences with digital educative curriculum materials help in-service social studies teachers develop professional teaching knowledge? ” Following a 13-month study, none of the six participants fully adopted the promoted wise practice pedagogy, problembased historical inquiry. However, findings suggested that sustained, collaborative experiences with digital educative curricula helped teachers in this study begin to articulate and demonstrate tenets of problem-based historical inquiry (e.g., purposeful student-inquiry grounded in recurring societal concerns, structuring classroom events to promote historical thinking). The authors proposed three features to strengthen future teacher-support efforts: dynamic experiences modeling wise practices, digital curriculum designed for collaboration, and expert mentors to help facilitate learning.
Classification of protein functional surfaces using structural characteristics

Protein structure and function are closely related, especially in functional surfaces, which are local spatial regions that perform the biological functions. Also, protein structures tend to evolve more slowly than amino acid sequences. We have therefore developed a method to classify proteins using the structures of functional surfaces; we call it protein surface classification (PSC). PSC may reflect functional relationships among proteins and may detect evolutionary relationships among highly divergent sequences. We focused on the surfaces of ligand-bound regions because they represent well-defined structures. Specifically, we used structural attributes to measure similarities between binding surfaces and constructed a PSC library of ∼2,000 binding surface types from the bound forms. Using flavin mononucleotide-binding proteins and glycosidases as examples, we show how the evolutionary position of an uncharacterized protein can be defined and its function inferred from the characterized members of the same surface subtype. We found that proteins with the same enzyme nomenclature may be divided into subtypes and that two proteins in the same CATH (Class, Architecture, Topology, Homologous superfamily) fold may belong to two different surface types. In conclusion, our approach complements the sequence-based and fold–domain classifications and has the advantage of associating the shape of a protein with its biological function. As an expandable library, PSC provides a resource of spatial patterns for studying the evolution of protein structure and function.