Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Separation of Coniferous Species in Boreal Forest Using Spectral and Contextual Features from Ikonos Imagery

Trees were located and classified to pine and spruce classes using features computed from Ikonos multispectral and panchromatic channels at study site in Eastern Finland. Spectral signatures were sampled from the extracted tree locations, and a set of contextual features was computed in the neighborhood around each located tree from the Ikonos panchromatic channel. Circular masks of five different sizes were used. The contextual features included higher order statistical features (skewness, kurtosis), and additional features obtained by fitting either two Gaussian distributions or a Weibull distribution to the intensity histogram. The contextual features aimed at capturing differences in the distribution of intensities of pine and spruce crowns. Pure (100%) pine and spruce plots with medium stem volume (100 - 200 mVha), and with a minimum distance of 15 m from stand borders, were used in the study. The training data contained 5 plots of pine and 5 plots of spruce, from which 196 trees were located (96 pine, 100 spruce). The separate validation data set consisted of 6 plots (3 plots both pine and spruce) containing 116 trees (54 pine, 62 spruce). Stepwise linear discriminant analysis was used to select the best separating features and for classification. From the multispectral channels, the best separating feature was the blue channel. From the contextual features the best separating features were the Weibull shape parameter, the ratio of sample mean and median, kurtosis, and skewness, the set of best features being slightly different for different sampling radii. For the validation data set, the percentage of correctly classified trees was 87.9% when using spectral channels only, and increased from 81.9% to 98.3% along with increasing sampling radius using only the contextual features. The classification accuracy reached 99.1% when both spectral and contextual features were used.
Peripheral contributions to olfactory bulb cell populations (migrations towards the olfactory bulb)

The olfactory system represents one of the most suitable models to study interactions between the peripheral and central nervous systems. The developing olfactory epithelium (olfactory placode and pit) gives rise to several cell populations that migrate towards the telencephalic vesicle. One of these cell populations, called the Migratory Mass (MM), accompanies the first emerging olfactory axons from the olfactory placode, but the fate of these cells and their contribution to the Olfactory Bulb (OB) populations has not been properly addressed. To asses this issue we performed ultrasound‐guided in utero retroviral injections at embryonic day (E) 11 revealing the MM as an early source of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells in later postnatal stages. Employing a wide number of antibodies to identify the nature of the infected cells we described that those cells generated within the MM at E11 belong to different cell populations both in the mesenchyma, where they envelop olfactory axons and express the most common glial markers, and in the olfactory bulb, where they are restricted to the Olfactory Nerve and Glomerular layers. Thus, the data reveal the existence of a novel progenitor class within the MM, potentially derived from the olfactory placode which gives rise to different neural cell population including some CNS neurons, glia and olfactory ensheathing cells. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ge waveguide photodetectors with responsivity roll-off beyond 1620 nm using localized stressor

We report a novel Ge waveguide photodetector and the fabrication on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. Localized stressor structures were incorporated to tune the responsivity roll-off wavelength. With the localized stressor structure, the roll-off in responsivity is found to be red-shifted from 1520 nm to beyond 1620 nm, i.e., a flat responsivity over the entire C- and L-band is obtained. This technique makes Ge a promising material for fabricating monolithic high-responsivity receivers covering the entire C- and L-band fiber optic communications.
Equations of state and phase diagrams for dense multi-ionic mixture plasmas.

Equations of state for dense binary-ionic mixture (BIM) plasmas with charge ratios R z ≤4.5 are evaluated for both fluid and solid phases on the basis of internal energies calculated by the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation method. The accuracy of the results has been confirmed through a sum-rule analysis of the free energy with respect to screening potentials at zero separation in one-component plasmas. Phase diagrams for various BIM's appropriate to white-dwarf interiors are constructed, including the erects of compressibility of the relativistically degenerate electrons. Eutectic diagrams, which result in significant chemical separation upon solidification, are predicted for BIM's with R z ≥1.6
Research on the measurement method of protrusion of impregnated diamond bit crown

An improved method based on the technology of laser scanning is introduced in this paper for protrusion value measurement of working element of impregnated diamond bit. The morphology of impregnated diamond bit crown with the size of 40/65 mesh is scanned and measured by the Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) which is built based on the principle of triangle measurement. Due to the automatic image mosaicing function of CMM, high horizontal and vertical resolution can be obtained and larger sampling area as well. The software of reverse engineering is employed to collect and analyze the data, which could be fit the protrusion track, and then the height of the protrusion could be measured in three-dimensional space. With the above method, the diamond protrusion value measured with this measurement method is consistent with the actual value.
Skeletal muscle fiber characteristics and oxidative capacity in hemiparetic stroke survivors

Introduction: Skeletal muscle is changed after stroke, but conflicting data exist concerning muscle morphology and oxidative enzyme capacity. Methods: In 36 chronic stroke patients bilateral rectus femoris muscle biopsies were analyzed, and fiber type proportions and cross‐sectional areas were determined by ATPase histochemistry. Enzymatic concentrations of citrate synthase (CS) and 3‐Hydroxyacyl‐coenzymeA‐dehydrogenase (HAD) were determined using freeze‐dried muscle tissue. Findings were correlated with clinical outcomes. Results: In the paretic muscles the mean fiber area was smaller (P = 0.0004), and a lower proportion of type 1 fibers (P = 0.0016) and a higher proportion of type 2X fibers (P = 0.0002) were observed. The paretic muscle had lower CS (P = 0.013) and HAD concentrations (P = 0.037). Mean fiber area correlated with muscle strength (r = 0.43; P = 0.041), and CS concentration correlated with aerobic capacity (r = 0.47; P = 0.01). Conclusions: In stroke survivors there is a phenotypic shift toward more fatigable muscle fibers with reduced oxidative enzymatic capacity that relates to clinical outcomes. Muscle Nerve 53: 748–754, 2016
Vaccinia virus induces apoptosis of infected macrophages.

Vaccinia virus (VV) infects a broad range of host cells, and while it usually causes their lysis (i.e. necrosis), the nature of the cell-death phenomenon is not well understood. In this study, we show that VV induces apoptosis of cells of the murine macrophage line J774.G8, as revealed by morphological signs, DNA ladder formation, changes of mitochondrial membrane potential and annexin-V positivity. Apoptosis occurred in both untreated and IFN-gamma-pretreated macrophages, and could not be inhibited by aminoguanidine, a relatively specific inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Inhibition of VV DNA synthesis and late gene expression by cytosine arabinoside also did not prevent apoptosis, while heat- or psoralen/UV-inactivated VV did not cause any apoptosis. Thus, VV early gene expression seems to be required for induction of apoptosis. At the cellular level, infection with VV induced a decrease in the levels of Bcl-x(L), an anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family. The importance of loss of Bcl-x(L) was demonstrated by prevention of VV-mediated apoptosis on expression of Bcl-2, a functional homologue of Bcl-x(L). Our findings provide evidence that induction of apoptosis by VV in macrophages requires virus early gene expression, does not involve nitric oxide, induces a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and is associated with altered levels of Bcl-x(L).
Electrical Stimulation Therapy and Wound Healing: Where Are We Now?

BACKGROUND Healing chronic wounds is an ongoing challenge for clinicians and poses a serious public health burden. Electrical stimulation (ES), broadly defined as the application of electrical current via electrodes placed on the skin adjacent to or directly within the wound, has been proposed as a therapeutic modality over a century ago, and recent advances in understanding the biology of electrical phenomena in the skin have rekindled an interest in this modality. THE PROBLEM Despite evidence that has shown ES to be effective for wound healing, it has been slow to gain acceptance in the United States. Also, there has been no consensus in terms of standardization of parameters to devise a systematic protocol for implementation of this technology. BASIC/CLINICAL SCIENCE ADVANCES The epidermis maintains a "skin battery" that generates an endogenous electric field and current flow when wounded. Experimental models have demonstrated that most of the cell types within the wound can sense an electric field in the range of that endogenously generated in the wound, and respond with a variety of biological and functional responses that can contribute to healing. Multiple animal wound models have demonstrated enhancement of a number of parameters of healing when ES is exogenously supplied. CLINICAL CARE RELEVANCE Clinical trials have investigated the efficacy of multiple forms of ES for improving healing in a wide variety of human chronic wounds. In 2002 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved reimbursement for use of ES in a clinical setting for certain chronic wounds. CONCLUSION THERE REMAIN MANY VOIDS IN OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE: clinical evidence is limited by deficiencies in the design of many of the trials, a multiplicity of ES application modes and waveforms used in trials prevent selection of an optimal modality, and lack of uniformity in reporting ES dosages leave us not much advanced from our clinical knowledge base a decade ago.
Dendritic organization in the neurons of the visual and motor cortices of the cat.

The manner of transmission of the nerve impulse from one neuron to another in the cerebral cortex is unknown. Few terminal buttons are to be seen on the cell bodies of cortical neurons, and the nature of the synapsis is obscure. It is possible to approach the problem of cortical organization in another way. In addition to studying the detailed appearance of particular synaptic junctions, one may attempt to assess the general principles of neuronal interaction from a consideration of the geometrical relationships subsisting between the neurons and between the neurons and the incoming axons. This could be done by measuring: (1) the density of packing of the cells; (2) the pattern of branching of the dendrites as shown by their diameter, number and length, and direction; (3) the pattern of branching of the axons. The present paper describes the results of studies on the dendritic branching pattern in the visual and motor cortices of the cat and the density of packing of the cells in the visual cortex. The axonal branching pattern will be discussed in a subsequent paper. The dendritic organization of the cerebral cortex has been little studied in recent years. Ramon y Cajal (1894, reproduced 1911) pointed out changes occurring during ontogeny and compared them with differences found in the phylogenetic series. The investigations of Lorente de No (1922, 1933, 1934) and of O'Leary (1941) on cortical histology are of outstanding importance, but, apart from a short paper by Bok (1936), no other recent detailed studies of dendrites seem to have been made.
A Perspective on the Experimental Techniques for Studying Lamins

Lamins are type V intermediate filaments that collectively form a meshwork underneath the inner nuclear membrane, called nuclear lamina. Furthermore, they are also present in the nucleoplasm. Lamins are experiencing a growing interest, since a wide range of diseases are induced by mutations in the gene coding for A-type lamins, globally known as laminopathies. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that lamins are involved in other pathological conditions, like cancer. The role of lamins has been studied from several perspectives, exploiting different techniques and procedures. This multidisciplinary approach has contributed to resolving the unique features of lamins and has provided a thorough insight in their role in living organisms. Yet, there are still many unanswered questions, which constantly generate research in the field. The present work is aimed to review some interesting experimental techniques performed so far to study lamins. Scientists can take advantage of this collection for their novel investigations, being aware of the already pursued and consolidated methodologies. Hopefully, advances in these research directions will provide insights to achieve better diagnostic procedures and effective therapeutic options.
No Difference in Functional and Radiographic Results 8.4 Years After Quadricortical Compared With Tricortical Syndesmosis Fixation in Ankle Fractures

Objective: To assess long-term functional and radiologic results after two types of syndesmosis fixation, comparing one quadricortical syndesmotic screw fixation with two tricortical screw fixation in ankle fractures. Design: Follow up of a previously conducted prospective, randomized clinical study. Setting: University clinic, Level I trauma center. Patients: Forty-eight patients with closed ankle fractures and concomitant syndesmotic rupture were operated on with quadricortical (n = 23) or tricortical (n = 25) syndesmotic fixation. Results: Follow-up time was 8.4 years (range, 7.7-8.9 years). There were no statistical differences in the two groups regarding Olerud-Molander Ankle score, Orthopaedic Trauma Association score, or degree of osteoarthritis. Patients with a difference in the syndesmotic width between the operated and the nonoperated ankle of 1.5 mm or more showed a tendency toward poorer functional results (P = 0.056). Twenty-one patients showed synostosis on plain radiographs. Of these, only seven patients had synostosis verified on computed tomography, all of whom had significantly worse function. Patients with a posterior fracture fragment at time of operation had poorer Olerud-Molander Ankle score (73.1 versus 85, P = 0.05) and all had osteoarthritis as compared with 55% of those without a posterior fragment. Obese patients (body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2) also had poorer Orthopaedic Trauma Association score, but neither obesity nor being overweight predicted late arthritis. Conclusions: Follow up 8.4 years after surgery of ankle fractures with syndesmotic injury showed satisfactory functional results with only minor differences between the two groups of syndesmotic fixation. Obese patients had significantly poorer functional results. The presence of a posterior fracture fragment was an important negative prognostic factor regarding functional results. Plain radiographs overestimated tibiofibular synostosis. Synostosis on computed tomography, however, predicted impaired ankle function. A difference in syndesmotic width 1.5 mm or greater between the two ankles seemed to be associated with an inferior clinical result.
An efficient and cheap entomological aspirator to collect mycophylic and anthophilic adult Drosophilidae flies

can be derived from a single injected embryo. Injection of a mixture of transgenic plasmids therefore provides a fast and cheap method of generating multiple transformed fly lines with a relatively small number of microinjections. The co-injection method requires that transformed progeny be individually genotyped, but this does not slow down the crosses, as red-eyed flies are genotyped after mating. More importantly, the transgenes of all transformed lines should be sequenced, to rule out human error and acquired mutations, regardless of the method of injection. For example, of the 18 flies genotyped here, one showed evidence of mutations in the "A" transgene that was not present in the injected "A" DNA, or in any other fly bearing the same transgene. This may be the result of a PCR amplification error, but alternatively it may reflect a DNA mutation occurring before or after transgene insertion. Mutations aside, without genotyping it is impossible to rule out the possibility that the DNA or the flies could have been mislabeled, either in the lab or by the injection company. The results presented here almost certainly underestimate the frequency of independent transformation events in different germline cells within a multiplex-injected embryo, for two reasons. First, only three progeny were selected for genotyping; sequencing of additional red-eyed progeny could only have increased the count of embryos giving rise to progeny bearing all three transgenes. Second, only three transgenic vectors were co-injected; it is possible that, for example, the three "B" progeny of injected embryo #3 represent three independent transformation events within that embryo. Taking this into account, it is possible that the number of co-injected plasmids could be increased significantly, further reducing the number of embryos to be injected. References: Bischof, J., R.K. Maeda, M. Hediger, F. Karch, and K. Basler 2007, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 104: 3312–3317; Boy A.L. , Z. Zhai, A. Habring-Müller, Y. Kussler-Schneider, P. Kaspar, and I. Lohmann 2010, Genesis 48: 452–456; Gloor, G.B. , C.R. Preston, D.M. Johnson-Schlitz, N.A. Nassif, R.W. Phillis, W.K. Benz, H.M. Robertson, and W.R. Engels 1993, Genetics 135: 81–95; Ramos, A.I., and S. Barolo 2013, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 368: 2013-18; Rubin, G. , and A. Spradling 1982, Science 218: 348–353; Swanson, C.I. , T. Hinrichs, L.A. Johnson, Y. Zhao, and S. Barolo 2008, Gene 408: 180-186.
The role of infection in preterm labour

Although there are many maternal characteristics associated with preterm birth, the aetiology in most cases is poorly understood. Our research demonstrates that multiple risk factors, such as maternal age and especially infection, are associated with preterm birth. Bacterial vaginosis and intrauterine infection are now believed to be an important risk factor for preterm delivery.
Blood cells as a source of transcriptional biomarkers of childhood obesity and its related metabolic alterations: results of the IDEFICS study.

BACKGROUND IDEFICS (Identification and Prevention of Dietary- and Lifestyle-Induced Health Effects in Children and Infants Project) is a European multicenter study on childhood obesity. One of its goals is to define early biomarkers of risk associated with obesity and its comorbid conditions. OBJECTIVE We considered blood cells as a new potential source of transcriptional biomarkers for these metabolic disorders and examined whether blood cell mRNA levels of some selected genes (LEPR, INSR, CPT1A, SLC27A2, UCP2, FASN, and PPARα) were altered in overweight children and whether their expression levels could be defined as markers of the insulin-resistant or dyslipidemic state associated with overweight. DESIGN Blood samples were obtained from 306 normal-weight and overweight children, aged 2-9 yr, from eight different European countries. Whole-blood mRNA levels were assessed by quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS LEPR, INSR, and CPT1A mRNA levels were higher in overweight compared with normal-weight children (the two latter only in males), whereas SLC27A2 mRNA levels were lower in overweight children. Significant associations were also found between expression levels of LEPR, INSR, CPT1A, SLC27A2, FASN, PPARα, and different parameters, including body mass index, homeostasis model assessment index, and plasma triglycerides and cholesterol levels. These associations showed that high expression levels of CPT1A, SLC27A2, INSR, FASN, or PPARα may be indicative of a lower risk for the insulin-resistant or dyslipidemic state associated with obesity, whereas low LEPR mRNA levels appear as a marker of high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, independently of body mass index. CONCLUSIONS These findings point toward the possibility of using the expression levels of these genes in blood cells as markers of metabolic status and can potentially provide an early warning of a future disorder.
Thylakoid-Bound FtsH Proteins Facilitate Proper Biosynthesis of Photosystem I1[OPEN]

FtsH, well characterized as degrading photodamaged D1 protein of photosystem II, is suggested to assist biosynthesis of photosystem I under moderate light. Thylakoid membrane-bound FtsH proteases have a well-characterized role in degradation of the photosystem II (PSII) reaction center protein D1 upon repair of photodamaged PSII. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) var1 and var2 mutants, devoid of the FtsH5 and FtsH2 proteins, respectively, are capable of normal D1 protein turnover under moderate growth light intensity. Instead, they both demonstrate a significant scarcity of PSI complexes. It is further shown that the reduced level of PSI does not result from accelerated photodamage of the PSI centers in var1 or var2 under moderate growth light intensity. On the contrary, radiolabeling experiments revealed impaired synthesis of the PsaA/B reaction center proteins of PSI, which was accompanied by the accumulation of PSI-specific assembly factors. psaA/B transcript accumulation and translation initiation, however, occurred in var1 and var2 mutants as in wild-type Arabidopsis, suggesting problems in later stages of PsaA/B protein expression in the two var mutants. Presumably, the thylakoid membrane-bound FtsH5 and FtsH2 have dual functions in the maintenance of photosynthetic complexes. In addition to their function as a protease in the degradation of the photodamaged D1 protein, they also are required, either directly or indirectly, for early assembly of the PSI complexes.
Etude des radiations adaptatives au sein des Antilopinae (Mammalia, Bovidae)

Avec pres de 120 especes, les Antilopinae (Mammalia, Bovidae) posent encore de nombreux problemes de systematique en raison des difficultes d’echantillonnage et du manque de donnees moleculaires disponibles. Lors de ce travail, sept genes ont ete sequences sur tous les genres de Bovidae. Une nouvelle methode de "superarbre" est proposee pour limiter les biais experimentaux et methodologiques lors de la reconstruction phylogenetique. Les resultats ont permis de presenter une classification, ou sont notamment decrits deux nouveaux genres, Arabitragus et Nilgiritragus. Au sein des Caprini, l’origine de Capra apparait liee a une hybridation inter-specifique. Seules deux radiations sur cinq sont identifiees comme adaptatives : la radiation en tribus au Miocene moyen, et celle des genres de Caprini au Miocene superieur. La periode de 9-8 Ma apparait cruciale pour l’evolution des Bovidae, avec de nombreux echanges entre l’Afrique et l’Eurasie et la diversification de la plupart des tribus.
Enhanced gain of scanning DRA array

Gain enhancement in the boresight direction of single element or antenna array above a ground plane can be achieved by loading the antenna with a planar dielectric slab with proper thickness and position. Scanning of the array under these conditions is studied. An array of dielectric resonators is used to perform this study. The study shows that the antenna gain is still benefiting from the dielectric slab as the gain is enhanced as compared with the array without the dielectric slab. However, the scanning view range may reach ± 60° without the dielectric slab, but with the slab, the scanning view range is ± 30° with the enhanced gain. So, the slab overcome the scanning loss of the conventional array.