Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of population traits and local social interactions in sex-change plasticity of the protandric marine gastropod Crepidula coquimbensis

Theoretical and experimental work suggests that time to sex change in sequential hermaphrodites may be strongly linked to local population traits and the social environment of the individuals. We evaluated social control and temporal and spatial plasticity in the sex-change response of the protandric marine gastropod Crepidula coquimbensis, which inhabits the empty shells of other gastropods and reproduces via direct development. Over 2 yr, 2 populations with significant genetic distance were sampled, and the abundance, population sex ratio, and sex ratio within hosting shells was measured. Reproductive responses, minimum female size, and the size at which 50% of the males changed sex to female (L50) were calculated for each location and sampling date. The sex ratio was male-biased in all cases. High temporal and spatial variability in the abundance, sex ratio, and body size at sex change was observed. However, negative and significant correlations were found between minimum female size and number of males in the aggregation and between population sex ratio and L50. Although earlier studies have suggested that sexchange strategy of gastropod species with direct development is less plastic and responsive to conspecifics, the present work indicates that the protandric marine gastropod C. coquimbensis may adjust its sexual strategy to local social conditions.
Repeated‐sprint performance and vastus lateralis oxygenation: Effect of limited O2 availability

This study examined the influence of muscle deoxygenation and reoxygenation on repeated‐sprint performance via manipulation of O2 delivery. Fourteen team‐sport players performed 10 10‐s sprints (30‐s recovery) under normoxic (NM: FIO2 0.21) and acute hypoxic (HY: FIO2 0.13) conditions in a randomized, single‐blind fashion and crossover design. Mechanical work was calculated and arterial O2 saturation (SpO2) was estimated via pulse oximetry for every sprint. Muscle deoxyhemoglobin concentration ([HHb]) was monitored continuously by near‐infrared spectroscopy. Differences between NM and HY data were analyzed for practical significance using magnitude‐based inferences. HY reduced SpO2 (–10.7 ± 1.9%, with chances to observe a higher/similar/lower value in HY of 0/0/100%) and mechanical work (–8.2 ± 2.1%; 0/0/100%). Muscle deoxygenation increased during sprints in both environments, but was almost certainly higher in HY (12.5 ± 3.1%, 100/0/0%). Between‐sprint muscle reoxygenation was likely more attenuated in HY (–11.1 ± 11.9%; 2/7/91%). The impairment in mechanical work in HY was very largely correlated with HY‐induced attenuation in muscle reoxygenation (r = 0.78, 90% confidence limits: 0.49; 0.91). Repeated‐sprint performance is related, in part, to muscle reoxygenation capacity during recovery periods. These results extend previous findings that muscle O2 availability is important for prolonged repeated‐sprint performance, in particular when the exercise is taken in hypoxia.
The Pope's Confessor: A Metaphor Relating to Illness in The Analyst

This paper examines some of the internal and external eventualities in the situation of illness in the analyst. The current emphasis on the use of the self as part of the analyzing instrument makes impairments in the analyst's physical well-being potentially disabling to the analytic work. A recommendation is made for analysts, both individually and as a professional group, to always consider this aspect of a personal medical problem.
Feature Based Affine Invariant Watermarking Robust to Geometric Distortions

This work, proposes a robust digital watermarking scheme based on feature points as a defense against illegal user attacks, such as, rotating, scaling and translation. First of all, a Gaussian filter is first adopted to discover the invariant feature points. The local maximum and the local minimum values are then calculated from those feature points. The Affine Invariant Region (AIR) is then divided by combination the values: local maximum, local minimum values and the center of mass. The AIR region is then transformed using affine transform to a block image, called the normalized image, in which the size of the block image is predefined. The watermarks are then embedded into the normalized image. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method can still extract the correct watermark, even after a geometric attack. The proposed method has a lower false positive rate and higher accuracy than Lu's [12] that making it a robust blind watermarking scheme.
Development and Fertility in Caenorhabditis elegans clk-1 Mutants Depend upon Transport of Dietary Coenzyme Q8 to Mitochondria*

The Caenorhabditis elegans clk-1mutants lack coenzyme Q9 and instead accumulate the biosynthetic intermediate demethoxy-Q9 (DMQ9). clk-1 animals grow to reproductive adults, albeit slowly, if supplied with Q8-containing Escherichia coli. However, if Q is withdrawn from the diet, clk-1animals either arrest development as young larvae or become sterile adults depending upon the stage at the time of the withdrawal. To understand this stage-dependent response to a Q-less diet, the quinone content was determined during development of wild-type animals. The quinone content varies in the different developmental stages in wild-type fed Q8-replete E. coli. The amounts peak at the second larval stage, which coincides with the stage of arrest of clk-1 larvae fed a Q-less diet from hatching. Levels of the endogenously synthesized DMQ9 are high in theclk-1(qm30)-arrested larvae and sterile adults fed Q-less food. Comparison of quinones from animals fed a Q-replete or a Q-less diet establishes that the Q8 present is assimilated from the E. coli. Furthermore, this E. coli-specific Q8 is present in mitochondria isolated from fertile clk-1(qm30) adults fed a Q-replete diet. These results suggest that the uptake and transport of dietary Q8 to mitochondria prevent the arrest and sterility phenotypes of clk-1 mutants and that DMQ is not functionally equivalent to Q.
Hep3B Human Hepatoma Cells Support Replication of the Wild-Type and a 5′-End Deletion Mutant GB Virus B Replicon

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and GB virus B (GBV-B) replicons have been reported to replicate only in Huh7 cells. Here we demonstrate that subpopulations of another human hepatoma cell line, Hep3B, are permissive for the GBV-B replicon, showing different levels of enhancement of replication from those of the unselected parental cell population. Adaptive mutations are not required for replication of the GBV-B replicon in these cells, as already demonstrated for Huh7 cells. Nonetheless, we identified a mutant replicon in one of the selected cell lines, which, although lacking the 5′ end proximal stem-loop, is able to replicate in Hep3B cells as well as in Huh7 cells. This mutant indeed shows a higher replication efficiency than does wild-type replicon, especially in the Hep3B cell clone from which it was originally recovered. This indicates that the stem-loop Ia is not necessary for replication of the GBV-B replicon in human cells, unlike what occurs with HCV, and that its absence can even provide a selective advantage.
A Highly Enriched Niche of Precursor Cells with Neuronal and Glial Potential Within the Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla of Adult Skin

Skin‐derived precursor cells (SKPs) are multipotent neural crest‐related stem cells that grow as self‐renewing spheres and are capable of generating neurons and myelinating glial cells. SKPs are of clinical interest because they are accessible and potentially autologous. However, although spheres can be readily isolated from embryonic and neonatal skin, SKP frequency falls away sharply in adulthood, and primary sphere generation from adult human skin is more problematic. In addition, the culture‐initiating cell population is undefined and heterogeneous, limiting experimental studies addressing important aspects of these cells such as the behavior of endogenous precursors in vivo and the molecular mechanisms of neural generation. Using a combined fate‐mapping and microdissection approach, we identified and characterized a highly enriched niche of neural crest‐derived sphere‐forming cells within the dermal papilla of the hair follicle of adult skin. We demonstrated that the dermal papilla of the rodent vibrissal follicle is 1,000‐fold enriched for sphere‐forming neural crest‐derived cells compared with whole facial skin. These “papillaspheres” share a phenotypic and developmental profile similar to that of SKPs, can be readily expanded in vitro, and are able to generate both neuronal and glial cells in response to appropriate cues. We demonstrate that papillaspheres can be efficiently generated and expanded from adult human facial skin by microdissection of a single hair follicle. This strategy of targeting a highly enriched niche of sphere‐forming cells provides a novel and efficient method for generating neuronal and glial cells from an accessible adult somatic source that is both defined and minimally invasive.
Performance evaluation of coding-based cognitive radio for various packet sizes

This paper mostly concerned with the various packet size effect on performance of erasure correctable codes for cognitive radio. Among these types of codes we tried to simulate Raptor code to discover its suitability for assumed erasure channel in cognitive radio. The main target after supporting the functionality of coding-based cognitive radio would be finding the appropriate packet length that can result in best performance in overcoming secondary user's packet loss in cognitive radio environment. We introduce this approach as an appropriate solution for transferring information in presence of primary users. In our simulation the role of primary users are played by wireless user which has specific packet size and variable traffic. Wireless LAN can be one suitable example of primary users among various communication environments. The appearance of wireless LAN packets in channel could be modeled by Poisson distribution and this means by finding this distribution's parameters we are able to model the erasure channel which will erase secondary user's packet due to carrier sense level of primary wireless LAN.
Multiple Event Source Routing (MESR) for Energy Efficient Wireless Sensor Network

The Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is used to sense different events occurring at different sections of the remote network. The sensor nodes have limited battery power, and the nature of their deployment makes recharging almost impossible. To limit the power drain, efficient communication protocols are needed. This paper proposes Multiple Event Source Routing (MESR) for sending critical information by optimal path, so that it reaches the base station in shortest possible time. MESR sends regular or not-so-critical information in one of the multiple routing paths. MESR is capable of handling multiple events simultaneously. It defines an overhearing ratio in order to reduce an overhearing energy waste among selected paths. Thus MESR protocol improves reliability as well as network lifetime also.
Efficacy of lead foil for reducing doses in the head and neck: a simulation study using digital intraoral systems.

OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of lead foils in reducing the radiation dose received by different anatomical sites of the head and neck during periapical intraoral examinations performed with digital systems. METHODS Images were acquired through four different manners: phosphor plate (PSP; VistaScan(®) system; Dürr Dental GmbH, Bissingen, Germany) alone, PSP plus lead foil, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS; DIGORA(®) Toto, Soredex(®), Tuusula, Finland) alone and CMOS plus lead foil. Radiation dose was measured after a full-mouth periapical series (14 radiographs) using the long-cone paralleling technique. Lithium fluoride (LiF 100) thermoluminescent dosemeters were placed in an anthropomorphic phantom at points corresponding to the tongue, thyroid, crystalline lenses, parotid glands and maxillary sinuses. RESULTS Dosemeter readings demonstrated the efficacy of the addition of lead foil in the intraoral digital X-ray systems provided in reducing organ doses in the selected structures, approximately 32% in the PSP system and 59% in the CMOS system. CONCLUSIONS The use of lead foils associated with digital X-ray sensors is an effective alternative for the protection of different anatomical sites of the head and neck during full-mouth periapical series acquisition.
‘Osteosynthesis’ of a Symptomatic Bipartite Medial Cuneiform

Bipartition of the medial cuneiform is uncommon and often not recognized on plain radiographs. It is usually asymptomatic and rarely, if ever, requires surgery. Injury to the synchondrosis of a bipartite medial cuneiform is rare and has, to our knowledge, been reported only once. We describe such a case with chronic disabling midfoot pain after remote trauma.
Partitioning Of Carbohydrates And Biomass Of Needles In Scots Pine Canopy

The study was aimed at the quantitative evaluation of the temporal and spatial partitioning of non-structural carbohydrates and needle biomass in a canopy of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in a Myrtillus site type forest stand (predominant in Estonia). The tree canopy was divided into ten equal layers and the material for the spatial partitioning of the investigated characteristics was sampled from all layers. Our findings revealed a significant variation in morphology and in the partitioning of carbohydrates in needles in different layers of the canopy. The study of the temporal dynamics of carbohydrates showed that starch content in needles started to increase in early spring before budbreak, which was accompanied by a decline in soluble carbohydrates. In October, the starch content of needles was low, but the concentration of soluble sugars started to increase attaining a maximum in winter. Regression analysis indicated that before budbreak, the partitioning of soluble sugars in different canopy layers was relatively weakly correlated with the height of the layer; however, a strong correlation was observed for starch. In autumn, when the growth of trees stopped and daily temperatures decreased, the allocation of soluble sugars was correlated with the height of the canopy layer
Transposition of Regulatory Elements by P-Element-Mediated Rearrangements in Drosophila melanogaster

Previously we described highly unstable mutations in the yellow locus, induced by the chimeric element and consisting of sequences from a distally located 1A unique genomic region, flanked by identical copies of an internally deleted 1.2-kb P element. Here we show that a sequence, which is part of the yellow 1A region, can be transmitted to the AS-C by successive inversion and reinversion generated by yellow- and AS-C-located P elements. The chimeric element contains a regulatory element from the 1A region that specifically blocks yellow wing and body enhancers and simultaneously stimulates yellow expression in bristles. These results suggest that P-element-generated chimeric elements may play a certain role in rapid changes of regulatory regions of genes during evolution.
Obesity in adulthood--the importance of childhood and parental obesity.

Obesity is a common condition with delayed and usually late-onset consequences. Since the prevalence of obesity is high and still growing, it is important to understand who is at risk for becoming obese and for what reasons, so that preventive measures can be implemented. This is particularly important in the light of the dramatic increase in the prevalence of excess body mass in relation to height in children and adolescents during the past 30 years.1 Unfortunately, it is still not possible to determine which children will be obese as adults, which will be affected by the conditions commonly associated with .
V-region gene analysis of locally defined synovial B and plasma cells reveals selected B cell expansion and accumulation of plasma cell clones in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To elucidate the development of synovial tissue-specific B cell immune responses, the clonality of individual naive B cells, memory B cells, and plasma cells and their organization and histologic localization in the inflamed tissue were investigated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS B and plasma cells were isolated by laser capture microdissection (LCM) from the synovial tissue of patients with RA. In addition, single naive B cells, memory B cells, and plasma cells were sorted from synovial tissue cell suspensions. RNA was extracted from the cells, and Ig VH genes were amplified, cloned, and sequenced. RESULTS Both LCM and single cell sorting analyses showed that naive and memory B cells infiltrated the RA synovial tissue. Comparison of the V-gene repertoire of B and plasma cells suggested that synovial plasma cells were generated, by and large, from locally activated B cells, indicating that a selected population of memory B cells differentiates into large plasma cell clones that then accumulate in the inflamed tissue. Clonally related plasma cells were isolated from separate and distinct localized areas of the tissue, suggesting that the newly generated plasma cells have a high migratory capacity. CONCLUSION These results support the idea of a continuous activation of selected B cell clones, and hence a massive accumulation of plasma cells, in RA synovial tissue. As B cells and their secreted antibodies are an important factor in controlling inflammatory processes, patients with RA displaying intensive synovial tissue lymphocytic infiltrations might benefit from B cell depletion therapy. Early treatment will prevent accumulation of pathogenic plasma cells.
In vitro anthelmintic activity of Tunisian fabacae (Hedysarum coronarium L., ecotype Bikra 21) against Haemonchus contortus

The use of bioactive tanniniferous plants was suggested as an alternative to control gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) infections in small ruminants. This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic effect of acetonic extract of Hedysarum coronarium (Ecotype Bikra 21, sulla) as fresh or dried biomass (hay) in the infective larvae (L3) of Haemonchus contortus. The larval exsheathment assay (LEA) was used to determine the proportions (%) of exsheathment of two plant acetonic extracts at different concentrations (1200, 600, 300, 150 μg/ml). To confirm the role of tannins in the anthelmintic effects of extracts, polyvinylpolypyrolidone (PVPP) was used as deactivating chemical tannins. The results indicated that the proportion of exsheathement was dose-dependent. Fresh sulla had the highest levels of total tannins (TT), total phenols (TP), condensed tannins (CT) and the highest biological activity (BA). It also stopped nearly the exsheathment process. Tannins are involved in anthelmintic (AH) effects because of the restoration of L3 exsheathment to values similar to those of controls after the addition of PVPP. It is concluded that in vivo investigation should be conducted to confirm the AH activity of sulla. * Corresponding Author: A. Aissa  asaissa@laposte.net International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR) ISSN: 2223-7054 (Print) 2225-3610 (Online) http://www.innspub. net Vol. 7, No. 4, p. 103-110, 2015 International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR) ISSN: 2223-7054 (Print) 2225-3610 (Online) http://www.innspub. net Vol. 5, No. 1, p. 14-22, 2014
Scattering and Transmission of Waves in Multiple Random Rough Surfaces: Energy Conservation Studies with the Second Order Small Perturbation Method

Energy conservation is an important consideration in wave scattering and transmission from random rough surfaces and is particularly important in passive microwave remote sensing. In this paper, we study energy conservation in scattering from layered random rough surfaces using the second order small perturbation method (SPM2). SPM2 includes both first order incoherent scattering and a second order correction to the coherent fields. They are combined to compute the total reflected and transmitted powers, as a sum of integrations over wavenumber kx, in which each integration includes the surface power spectra of a rough interface weighted by an emission kernel function (assuming the roughness of each interface is uncorrelated). We calculate the corresponding kernel functions which are the power spectral densities for one-dimensional (1D) surfaces in 2D scattering problems and examine numerical results for the cases of 2 rough interfaces and 51 rough interfaces. Because it is known that the SPM when evaluated to second order conserves energy, and it can be applied to second order for arbitrary surface power spectra, energy conservation can be shown to be satisfied for each value of kx in the kernel functions. The numerical examples show that energy conservation is obeyed for any dielectric contrast, any layer configuration and interface, and arbitrary roughness spectra. The values of reflected or transmitted powers predicted, however, are accurate only to second order in small surface roughness.
Degrees of freedom for the constant MIMO interference channel with CoMP transmission

The multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) interference channel (IC) is considered with constant channel coefficients, N transmit and receive antennas at each user, and coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission, in which each message is jointly transmitted by M<sub>t</sub> successive transmitters. It is shown that the degrees of freedom with CoMP transmission using a two stage scheme involving both zero forcing (ZF) and interference alignment (IA) can be significantly greater than without CoMP transmission. In particular, all AT-users can achieve d degrees of freedom almost surely if d ≤ ⌊2N/K-M<sub>t</sub>;1⌋ and M<sub>t</sub> ≤ K - 2. Additionally, the first M<sub>t</sub> - 1 users can achieve d<sub>1</sub> degrees of freedom and the last K - M<sub>t</sub> ; 1 users can achieve d<sub>2</sub> degrees of freedom almost surely if d<sub>2</sub> ≤ ⌊2N/K-M<sub>t</sub>;1⌋, M<sub>t</sub> ≤ -2, and d<sub>1</sub> ; (K - M<sub>t</sub> ; 1)d<sub>2</sub> ≤ 2N. Next, the analysis of the constant MIMO IC with CoMP transmission is applied to the development of iterative algorithms to design transmit and receive vectors analogous to those without CoMP transmission. The degrees of freedom analysis is shown through simulations to provide a good guideline for choosing how many beams each user should send.