Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microsatellites Reveal a High Population Structure in Triatoma infestans from Chuquisaca, Bolivia

Background For Chagas disease, the most serious infectious disease in the Americas, effective disease control depends on elimination of vectors through spraying with insecticides. Molecular genetic research can help vector control programs by identifying and characterizing vector populations and then developing effective intervention strategies. Methods and Findings The population genetic structure of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), the main vector of Chagas disease in Bolivia, was investigated using a hierarchical sampling strategy. A total of 230 adults and nymphs from 23 localities throughout the department of Chuquisaca in Southern Bolivia were analyzed at ten microsatellite loci. Population structure, estimated using analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) to estimate FST (infinite alleles model) and RST (stepwise mutation model), was significant between western and eastern regions within Chuquisaca and between insects collected in domestic and peri-domestic habitats. Genetic differentiation at three different hierarchical geographic levels was significant, even in the case of adjacent households within a single locality (R ST = 0.14, F ST = 0.07). On the largest geographic scale, among five communities up to 100 km apart, R ST = 0.12 and F ST = 0.06. Cluster analysis combined with assignment tests identified five clusters within the five communities. Conclusions Some houses are colonized by insects from several genetic clusters after spraying, whereas other households are colonized predominately by insects from a single cluster. Significant population structure, measured by both R ST and F ST, supports the hypothesis of poor dispersal ability and/or reduced migration of T. infestans. The high degree of genetic structure at small geographic scales, inferences from cluster analysis and assignment tests, and demographic data suggest reinfesting vectors are coming from nearby and from recrudescence (hatching of eggs that were laid before insecticide spraying). Suggestions for using these results in vector control strategies are made.
THE IMPACT OF SLEEP DISTURBANCES ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE PATIENTS WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE

In this study, we review the sleep disturbances in PD patients. We evaluate the sleep disorders, and the interaction with gender, Yahr and Hoehn stage in PD, the quality of life. We evaluated 74 patients, with a mean age of 62,4 years old. 65% of patients presented sleep disturbances and 53% patients presented nocturnal disturbances. Insomnia was present in 36,5% of the study patients. Good quality of life presented 10,8%, equally distributed between the two genders. Cuvinte cheie: boala Parkinson, tulburări de somn, calitatea vieţii Rezumat: In acest studiu am evaluat tulburările de somn la pacien ţi cu boala Parkinson (BP). Am evaluat tulburarea de somn si corelat ă cu sexul, stadiul Hoehn si Yahr al bolii, calitatea vieţii. S-au inclus in studiu 74 pacienţi, cu vârsta medie 62.4 ani. 65% din pacienţi au prezentat tulburări de somn si 53% tulburări nocturne. Insomnie au prezentat 36.5% din pacienţi. Calitatea bună a vieţii au prezentat 10.8%, egal repartizată in cele două sexe.
Automatic continuous on-line monitoring of salicylic acid and acetylsalicylic acid in pharmaceuticals

An asymmetrical FIA merging-zones manifold based on the dual injection of two sample microvolumes was developed for the simultaneous determination of salicylic acid and acetylsalicylic acid in pharmaceutical preparations at a sampling frequency of 30/h. The complex formed between the Fe(III) reagent continuously introduced in the system and salicylic acid was monitored photometrically at 520 nm. One of the sample plugs was prehydrolysed on injection into an NaOH stream and was circulated through a longer channel than the other plug. This yielded two FIA peaks corresponding to salicylic acid and the overall content, respectively. The proposed manifold was successfully used to control the dissolution test of a pharmaceutical preparation.
Laser capture‐microarray analysis of Lim1 mutant kidney development

The Lim1 gene has essential functions during several stages of kidney development. In particular, a tissue‐specific knockout in the early metanephric mesenchyme results in the formation of the earliest nephron precursor, the renal vesicle, but failure of this structure to progress to the next stage, the comma‐shaped body. To better understand the molecular nature of this developmental arrest, we used a laser capture microdissection–microarray strategy to examine the perturbed gene expression pattern of the mutant renal vesicles. Among the genes found differently expressed were Chrdl2, an inhibitor of BMP signaling, the proapoptotic factor Bmf, as well as myob5, an atypical myosin that modulates chemokine signaling, and pdgfrl, which is important in epithelial folding. Of particular interest, the microarray data indicated that the Dkk1 gene, which encodes an inhibitor of Wnt signaling, was downregulated ninefold in mutants. This was confirmed by in situ hybridizations. It is interesting to note that Lim1 and Dkk1 mutant mice have striking similarities in phenoytpe. These results suggest that the Dkk1 gene might be a key downstream effector of Lim1 function. genesis 45:432–439, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The conceivable benefits of being comprehensive – Finnish Local Education Authorities on recognising and controlling the social costs of school choice

Since the 1980s, numerous education reforms have sought to dismantle centralised bureaucracies and replace them with devolved systems of schooling that emphasise parental choice and competition between increasingly diversified types of schools. Nevertheless, the Finnish variety of post-comprehensivism continues to emphasise municipal assignment of school places, in the form of the neighbourhood school principle; albeit, in its current form, with the possibility for locally controlled choice and competition, channelled especially through classes with a special emphasis. Based on nine in-depth thematic interviews with experts in provision, management or evaluation of local level compulsory education, this paper focuses on how the conceivable costs and benefits of school choice are recognised and controlled in urban Finnish municipalities. Two distinctive discourses were found to be embodied in the portrayals of the costs and benefits of choice: the legitimization of school choice; and promoting the comprehensive system. The legitimation of school choice discourse is built on the acceptable, but strictly limited reasons for choice, and necessity of school choice. In contrast, the discourse of fostering the comprehensive system is based on the ideology of equality of educational opportunities. It is constructed upon the traditional, universal, non-selective features of the comprehensive school. Against this background, possibilities for school choice can be, and must be, locally controlled – even restricted, if needed – in order to prevent a vicious circle of failing schools in deprived neighbourhoods.
To initiate a corporate memory with a knowledge compendium: ten years of learning from experience with the Ardans method

Ardans method ArdansSas (2006b) and technology ArdansSas (2006a) of knowledge capitalization and structuration are used with different industries (automotive, aerospace, energy, defence, steel, health, etc.) for more than a decade in France and Europe. The proposed solutions in knowledge management and especially in expertise capitalisation have set a lot of feedback over time. With a view toward ongoing improvement, what are the impacts of these feedbacks on the method nowadays? Put into practice into the industry, the return of investment of a capitalization campaign is inferred from the quality of the knowledge base delivered at the end of the campaign. Therefore, the method and the technology are intrinsically connected. How IT tools can assist with the quality diagnosis of the knowledge base? A comparative study was conducted on the basis of the method Mariot et al. (2007) exposed at EGC’2007. This article sets out the results of the changes and improvements of the method, in conjunction with the latest technical and scientific development on the one hand, and the change of the industry needs on the other hand.
Characterization of bradyzoite-specific antigens of Toxoplasma gondii

Monoclonal antibodies that react specifically with bradyzoite antigens of Toxoplasma gondii were selected by differential immunofluorescence among hybridomas produced against these organisms. These antigens were further characterized by immunofluorescence on living bradyzoites and Western immunoblotting. Four pellicular antigens (36, 34, 21, and 18 kDa) were identified; three of these are exposed on the surface of the organism and accessible to either antibodies, trypsin cleavage, or both of these surface-probing procedures. These antigens were found on recent human isolates of T. gondii, as well as on laboratory strain bradyzoites obtained from either brain cysts or in vitro-grown parasites.
Thai subordinates' perceptions of sex, socio-communicative style, and verbal aggressiveness on supervisor's credibility

Thai statistic indicates that there are fewer women pursuing leadership roles than men. The percentage of female workers in the director level is much lower than that of male workers in all sizes of establishment. This gender segregation triggered this study to explore any significant difference in subordinates’ perceptions between sexes, socio-communicative styles, and verbal aggressiveness of their supervisor’s
Biomedical Signal Processing and Modeling Complexity of Living Systems

1 Department of Mathematics, University of Salerno, Via Ponte Don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, Italy 2 Department of Clinical Imaging Ultrasound, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 3 College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China 4 Department of Histology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Sexual transmission of HIV according to viral load and antiretroviral therapy: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives:To synthesize the evidence on the risk of HIV transmission through unprotected sexual intercourse according to viral load and treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). Design:Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods:We searched Medline, Embase and conference abstracts from 1996–2009. We included longitudinal studies of serodiscordant couples reporting on HIV transmission according to plasma viral load or use of ART and used random-effects Poisson regression models to obtain summary transmission rates [with 95% confidence intervals, (CI)]. If there were no transmission events we estimated an upper 97.5% confidence limit. Results:We identified 11 cohorts reporting on 5021 heterosexual couples and 461 HIV-transmission events. The rate of transmission overall from ART-treated patients was 0.46 (95% CI 0.19–1.09) per 100 person-years, based on five events. The transmission rate from a seropositive partner with viral load below 400 copies/ml on ART, based on two studies, was zero with an upper 97.5% confidence limit of 1.27 per 100 person-years, and 0.16 (95% CI 0.02–1.13) per 100 person-years if not on ART, based on five studies and one event. There were insufficient data to calculate rates according to the presence or absence of sexually transmitted infections, condom use, or vaginal or anal intercourse. Conclusion:Studies of heterosexual discordant couples observed no transmission in patients treated with ART and with viral load below 400 copies/ml, but data were compatible with one transmission per 79 person-years. Further studies are needed to better define the risk of HIV transmission from patients on ART.
Association of Genetic Variants of BMP4 with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Clinical Traits in a Chinese Han Population

BMP4 is one of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, which can participate in adipogenesis. Gene encoding BMP4 is acknowledged as a convincing candidate that may contribute to both glucose and lipid metabolism. In this paper, we aimed to test the impacts of BMP4 variants on type 2 diabetes in a large sample of Chinese population. We genotyped 10 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms within the BMP4 region in 6822 participants and acquired detailed clinical investigations and biochemistry measurements. We found that BMP4 rs8014363 showed nominal association towards type 2 diabetes, with the T allele conferring a high risk of type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.108, 95%CI 0.999–1.229, P = 0.051 for allele; OR = 1.110, 95%CI 1.000–1.231, P = 0.050 for genotype), but it was no longer statistically significant after adjusting for multiple testing (empirical P = 0.3689 for allele based on 10,000 permutations). Moreover, we observed a significant association of rs8014363 with triglyceride level and a trend towards association with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after adjusting for age, gender, and BMI (P = 0.035 and 0.068, resp.). Our data suggested that the genetic variants of BMP4 may not play a dominant role in glucose metabolism in Chinese Han population, but a minor effect cannot be ignored.
Fast mode decision and motion estimation for H.264 with a focus on MPEG-2/H.264 transcoding

The H.264 standard achieves much higher coding efficiency than previous video coding standards, due to its improved inter and intra prediction modes which come with a cost of higher computational complexity. When transcoding to H.264 from MPEG-2, motion information from MPEG-2 can be used to speed up the motion search. Fast mode decision algorithms are proposed for B and P frames, and a fast intra prediction algorithm is developed for intra coding. In addition, fast motion estimation is developed by reusing the motion information from MPEG-2. Simulation results demonstrate that we can achieve significant complexity reduction while maintaining the coding efficiency.
Nathamon Buaprommee Antecedents of Word-of-Mouth for Meat with Traceability : Evidence from Thai Consumers C

Because of the outbreak of mad cow disease and bird flu, consumers have become more concerned with quality and safety of meat and poultry. As a consequence, meat traceability has been implemented as a tool to raise the standard in the meat production industry. In Thailand, while traceability is relatively common among the manufacturer-wholesaler-retailers cycle, it is rarely used as a marketing tool specifically designed to persuade consumers who are the actual meat endusers. Therefore, the present study attempts to understand what influences consumers to spread their words-ofmouth (WOM) regarding meat with traceability by conducting a study in Thailand where research in this area is rather scant. Data were collected from one hundred and sixty-seven consumers in the northeastern region and analyzed with SEM. The study results reveal that perceived usefulness of traceability system, social norms, and product class knowledge are significant antecedents where consumers spread positive words regarding meat with traceability system. A number of theoretical and managerial implications as well as future study directions are offered at the end of this study report. Keywords—Perceived usefulness, product knowledge, social norms, traceability, word-of-mouth,
Scales for Personality Disorders Developed from the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems

Diagnosing personality disorders (PDs) is both difficult and labor intensive, especially when using interview techniques. Given these constraints, examining the utility and validity of self-reports for purposes of case identification assumes greater importance. Using the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP) and a sample of 145 psychiatric patients, five new subscales were developed. Three subscales labeled “interpersonal sensitivity” (11 items), “interpersonal ambivalence” (ten items), and “aggression” (seven items) were based on items that distinguished between patients with any versus no PD. Two subscales labeled “need for social approval” (nine items) and “lack of sociability” (ten items) were based on items that distinguished between patients with a cluster C (anxious, internalizing) PD and all others. These scales reflect the nature of interpersonal problems most characteristic of patients with PDs, and initial crossvalidation demonstrated their utility as screening tools for identifying patient.
A new approach of sign language recognition system for bilingual users

Sign language is becoming increasingly popular day by day to make a bridge between the hearing impaired and normal people. It is a very challenging task in respect of developing country like Bangladesh where around 2.4 million people use Bangla sign language. In this respect we propose a simple, low cost Bangla sign language translation (BSLT) system that can translate sign into Bangla text. We report on the development of universal interpreter software (UIS) that can be used by both the American and the Bangladeshi users. For this, an efficient method is proposed for skin detection & feature extraction. Our system can recognize 16 Bengali words & 11 Bengali numbers. We train our system using a database of (27×10×20) images, i.e. 10 persons containing 20 images per sign & for testing we use another 2700 (27×10×10) images. The system results in about 96.463% accuracy as compared to K-Nearest Neighbor algorithm.
Identification of Stem Rust Resistance in Three Synthetic Wheat Populations

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv TABLE OF CONTENTS v FORWARD vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS vii TABLES LIST viii FIGURE LIST x LITERATURE REVIEW 1 LITERATURE REVIEW REFERENCES 13 INTRODUCTION 16 MATERIALS & METHODS 19 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 24 REFERENCES 37 FIGURES 47 TABLES 40
NF-Y Binding Site Architecture Defines a C-Fos Targeted Promoter Class

ChIP-seq experiments detect the chromatin occupancy of known transcription factors in a genome-wide fashion. The comparisons of several species-specific ChIP-seq libraries done for different transcription factors have revealed a complex combinatorial and context-specific co-localization behavior for the identified binding regions. In this study we have investigated human derived ChIP-seq data to identify common cis-regulatory principles for the human transcription factor c-Fos. We found that in four different cell lines, c-Fos targeted proximal and distal genomic intervals show prevalences for either AP-1 motifs or CCAAT boxes as known binding motifs for the transcription factor NF-Y, and thereby act in a mutually exclusive manner. For proximal regions of co-localized c-Fos and NF-YB binding, we gathered evidence that a characteristic configuration of repeating CCAAT motifs may be responsible for attracting c-Fos, probably provided by a nearby AP-1 bound enhancer. Our results suggest a novel regulatory function of NF-Y in gene-proximal regions. Specific CCAAT dimer repeats bound by the transcription factor NF-Y define this novel cis-regulatory module. Based on this behavior we propose a new enhancer promoter interaction model based on AP-1 motif defined enhancers which interact with CCAAT-box characterized promoter regions.
Naturally Segregating Variation at Ugt86Dd Contributes to Nicotine Resistance in Drosophila melanogaster

Identifying the sequence polymorphisms underlying complex trait variation is a key goal of genetics research, since knowing the precise causative molecular events allows insight into the pathways governing trait variation. Genetic analysis of complex traits in model systems regularly starts by constructing QTL maps, but generally fails to identify causative sequence polymorphisms. Previously we mapped a series of QTL contributing to resistance to nicotine in a Drosophila melanogaster multiparental mapping resource and here use a battery of functional tests to resolve QTL to the molecular level. One large-effect QTL resided over a cluster of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, and quantitative complementation tests using deficiencies eliminating subsets of these detoxification genes revealed allelic variation impacting resistance. RNAseq showed that Ugt86Dd had significantly higher expression in genotypes that are more resistant to nicotine, and anterior midgut-specific RNA interference (RNAi) of this gene reduced resistance. We discovered a segregating 22-bp frameshift deletion in Ugt86Dd, and accounting for the InDel during mapping largely eliminates the QTL, implying the event explains the bulk of the effect of the mapped locus. CRISPR/Cas9 editing of a relatively resistant genotype to generate lesions in Ugt86Dd that recapitulate the naturally occurring putative loss-of-function allele, leads to a large reduction in resistance. Despite this major effect of the deletion, the allele appears to be very rare in wild-caught populations and likely explains only a small fraction of the natural variation for the trait. Nonetheless, this putatively causative coding InDel can be a launchpad for future mechanistic exploration of xenobiotic detoxification.
Neural networks for LED color control

The design and implementation of an architectural dimming control for multicolor LED-based lighting fixtures is complicated by the need to maintain a consistent color balance under a wide variety of operating conditions. Factors to consider include nonlinear relationships between luminous flux intensity and drive current, junction temperature dependencies, LED manufacturing tolerances and binning parameters, device aging characteristics, variations in color sensor spectral responsitivities, and the approximations introduced by linear color space models. In this paper we formulate this problem as a nonlinear multidimensional function, where maintaining a consistent color balance is equivalent to determining the hyperplane representing constant chromaticity. To be useful for an architectural dimming control design, this determination must be made in real time as the lighting fixture intensity is adjusted. Further, the LED drive current must be continuously adjusted in response to color sensor inputs to maintain constant chromaticity for a given intensity setting. Neural networks are known to be universal approximators capable of representing any continuously differentiable bounded function. We therefore use a radial basis function neural network to represent the multidimensional function and provide the feedback signals needed to maintain constant chromaticity. The network can be trained on the factory floor using individual device measurements such as spectral radiant intensity and color sensor characteristics. This provides a flexible solution that is mostly independent of LED manufacturing tolerances and binning parameters.
Co-design of CML IO and Interposer channel for low area and power signaling

In recent years, 2.5D integration of ICs on Interposer is becoming popular for highly integrated miniaturized systems. To combine two or more chips together, there is a lot of communication between the chips and this needs either a very high number of slow channels or numerous high speed channels. To find an optimum number and speed of interposer channels is an important task. In conventional PCB data communication systems, very high speed serial data transmission circuits are used which take a lot of area and power. While in 2.5D systems, area-power are strict constraints and the interposer channel is drastically different from PCB channel in terms of its electrical properties. To enable high bandwidth chip-to-chip interposer communication with low area-power requirements, it is mandatory to co-design the interposer channel and IO circuit. To address the issue, this paper discusses the electrical properties of 2.5D channel segments along with a co-design methodology targeting optimum area-power cost for maximum bandwidth current mode logic differential driver.