Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differing Epidemiological Dynamics of Influenza B Virus Lineages in Guangzhou, Southern China, 2009-2010

ABSTRACT The epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of the two cocirculating lineages of influenza B virus, Victoria and Yamagata, are poorly understood, especially in tropical or subtropical areas of Southeast Asia. We performed a phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) sequences of influenza B viruses isolated in Guangzhou, a southern Chinese city, during 2009 to 2010 and compared the demographic and clinical features of infected patients. We identified multiple viral introductions of Victoria strains from both Chinese and international sources, which formed two phylogenetically and antigenically distinct clades (Victoria 1 and 2), some of which persisted between seasons. We identified one dominant Yamagata introduction from outside China during 2009. Our phylogenetic analysis reveals the occurrence of reassortment events among the Victoria and Yamagata lineages and also within the Victoria lineage. We found no significant difference in clinical severity by influenza B lineage, with the exceptions that (i) the Yamagata lineage infected older people than either Victoria lineage and (ii) fewer upper respiratory tract infections were caused by the Victoria 2 than the Victoria 1 clade. Overall, our study reveals the complex epidemiological dynamics of different influenza B lineages within a single geographic locality and has implications for vaccination policy in southern China.
Genetic and environmental influences on hearing at different frequencies separately for the better and worse hearing ear in older women

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relative contribution of genetic and environmental effects on the air-conducted hearing threshold levels at low (0.125–0.5 kHz), mid (1–2 kHz), and high (4–8 kHz) frequencies separately for the better and worse hearing ear in older women. We also examined the distribution of audiogram configurations. Data was analysed using quantitative genetic modelling. As part of the Finnish twin study on aging (FITSA), hearing was measured in 103 monozygotic and 114 dizygotic female twin pairs aged 63–76 years. Approximately every third subject had a flat type, and two-thirds a descending type of audiogram configuration. No significant difference was observed in the distribution of audiogram configurations between zygosity groups. In the better ear, additive genetic effects accounted for 64%–74% of the total variance at different frequencies. For the worse ear, environmental effects were larger. Although overall heritability is rather constant across the frequency spectrum, it is noteworthy that at low and high frequencies frequency-specific genetic and environmental effects together accounted for the majority of the total variance.
A structured AMP method recovering signals with a forward-backward splitting mode

D-AMP (Denoising-based Approximate Message Passing) method usually offers an efficient recovery in image Compressive Sensing (CS). To apply D-AMP in structured signals, we focus on a forward-backward splitting mode [5] and have to deal with signal bias in the backward shrinkage step. For deviation calibrating and better adaptation to structure clustering, we modify the BM3D (Block-matching and 3D filtering) based D-AMP method (named as BM3D-AMP) in two folds: 1) Iteratively optimize a data-fidelity term with total variation (TV) and wavelet sparse constraints, aiming to diminish the bias resulted from the splitting operation. 2) Suggest a more accurate initial-state estimation by using a sparse tree and finally accelerate the CS reconstruction. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm averagely achieves higher PSNR values than the BM3D-AMP algorithm.
Dynamic Consistency in Denmark: A Longitudinal Field Experiment

We review experimental evidence collected from risky choice experiments using poor subjects in Ethiopia, India and Uganda. Using these data we estimate that just over 50% of our sample behaves in accordance with expected utility theory and that the rest subjectively weight probability according to prospect theory. Our results show that inferences about risk aversion are robust to whichever model we adopt when we estimate each model separately. However, when we allow both models to explain portions of the data simultaneously, we infer risk aversion for subjects behaving according to expected utility theory and risk seeking behavior for subjects behaving according to prospect theory. We conclude that the current practice of designing policies under the assumption that one or other explains all behavior is fundamentally flawed.
Microbial air contamination in poultry houses in the summer and winter.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the degree of microbial air contamination in three laboratory rooms designed for raising broiler chickens under identical conditions, in the summer and winter. It was found that in identical poultry houses and under identical management conditions, certain differences can be observed with regard to temperature and humidity parameters and the degree of microbial air contamination, both in the summer and winter. The concentrations of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and fungi were higher in the winter than in the summer in all rooms. Various levels of microbial air contamination had no effect on broiler production results.
Advances in ISAR processing for high resolution cross-range profiling with passive radar

This paper presents advanced processing strategies for cross-range profiling of moving targets via ISAR (Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar) processing in WiFi-based passive radar. In particular, it is firstly shown that the disturbance removal stage of the WiFi-based passive radar processing scheme might have a degrading effect on the quality of the ISAR processing which results in a reduction of the cross-range profiling performance. To cope with this limitation, a new approach is proposed for the cancellation stage which aims at preserving the target Signal to Noise Ratio while still removing the disturbance contribution. This approach is shown to yield better performance with respect to conventional cancellation methods while yielding a remarkable saving in terms of computational load.
Topological analysis of the Escherichia coli ferrichrome-iron receptor by using monoclonal antibodies

Ferrichrome-iron transport in Escherichia coli is initiated by the outer membrane receptor FhuA. Thirty-five anti-FhuA monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were isolated to examine the surface accessibility of FhuA sequences and their contribution to ligand binding. The determinants of 32 of the MAbs were mapped to eight distinct regions in the primary sequence of FhuA by immunoblotting against (i) five internal deletion FhuA proteins and (ii) four FhuA peptides generated by cyanogen bromide cleavage. Two groups of MAbs bound to FhuA in outer membrane vesicles but not to intact cells, indicating that their determinants, located between residues 1 and 20 and 21 and 59, are exposed to the periplasm. One of the 28 strongly immunoblot-reactive MAbs bound to FhuA on intact cells in flow cytometry, indicating that its determinant, located between amino acids 321 and 381, is cell surface exposed. This MAb and four others which in flow cytometry bound to cells expressing FhuA were tested for the ability to block ligand binding. While no MAb inhibited growth promotion by ferrichrome or cell killing by microcin 25, some prevented killing by colicin M and were partially able to inhibit the inactivation of T5 phage. These data provide evidence for spatially distinct ligand binding sites on FhuA. The lack of surface reactivity of most of the immunoblot-reactive MAbs suggests that the majority of FhuA sequences which lie external to the outer membrane may adopt a tightly ordered organization with little accessible linear sequence.
Trace class operators and Hilbert-Schmidt operators

If X,Y are normed spaces, let B(X,Y ) be the set of all bounded linear maps X → Y . If T : X → Y is a linear map, I take it as known that T is bounded if and only if it is continuous if and only if E ⊆ X being bounded implies that T (E) ⊆ Y is bounded. I also take it as known that B(X,Y ) is a normed space with the operator norm, that if Y is a Banach space then B(X,Y ) is a Banach space, that if X is a Banach space then B(X) = B(X,X) is a Banach algebra, and that if H is a Hilbert space then B(H) is a C∗-algebra. An ideal I of a Banach algebra is an ideal of the algebra: to say that I is an ideal does not demand that I is a Banach subalgebra, i.e. does not demand that I is a closed subset of the Banach algebra. I is a ∗-ideal of a C∗-algebra if I is an ideal of the algebra and if A ∈ I implies that A∗ ∈ I. If X and Y are normed spaces, we take as known that the strong operator topology on B(X,Y ) is coarser than the norm topology on B(X,Y ), and thus if Tn → T in the operator norm, then Tn → T in the strong operator topology. If X is a normed space, M is a dense subspace of X, Y is a Banach space and T : M → Y is a bounded linear operator, then there is a unique element of B(X,Y ) whose restriction to M is equal to T , and we also denote this by T . If X is a normed space, define 〈·, ·〉 : X ×X∗ → C by 〈x, λ〉 = λ(x), x ∈ X,λ ∈ X∗.
Divergence of Opinion Surrounding Extreme Events

"This paper examines the stock market performance of a large sample of new issues lIPOs and SEOsr following an extreme price movement during the first three years after the offering. Strong underperformance follows either a positive or negative lat least p/ - 15%r one-day return event. This poor performance cannot be explained by the Fama-French four-factor methodology, or by the generally low stock returns of growth firms. Unlike recent issuers, non-issuers report no poor performance following a similar extreme event using the four-factor methodology. The extreme event date shows very high levels of turnover, a measure of divergence of opinion. Finally, there is a strong negative linkage between higher levels of divergence of opinion and subsequent stock performance". Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 2005.
Fabrication of Conducting Polymer Nanowires

The advancement of nanotechnology provides opportunities for fabrication of nanoscale materials and higher performance devices using nanomaterials with high precision. Currently, various nanomaterials and nanostructures in the range of 1 to 100 nm have been produced by chemical and physical methods. Among various nanostructured materials, one-dimensional (1D) materials, such as nanowires, nanotubes, nanorods, and nanobelts, have potential applications in nanoscale electronics (Cui & Lieber, 2001), optoelectronics (Duan et al., 2001), photonics (Gudiksen et al., 2002; Huang et al., 2001), sensors (Cui et al., 2001), and solar cells (Law et al., 2005) due to their unique electrical, chemical, and optical properties (Li et al., 2006; Thelander et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2008). Nanowires are useful in chemical or biological sensors for detecting single molecules because they have a high surfaceto-volume ratio and a highly sensitive 1D nanostructure that gives rise to large conductivity change associated with binding molecules (Cui et al., 2001; Ramanathan et al., 2005). Conducting polymers, such as polypyrrole, polyaniline, polythiophene, and their derivatives, are promising materials for synthesis of nanostructured materials and devices (Langea et al., 2008; Malinauskas et al., 2005). Compared with other materials, conducting polymers have some unique electrical, chemical, and optical properties because of their conjugated structures, and they are easily synthesized using chemical or electrochemical synthetic methods at room temperatures with low cost (Aleshin, 2006; Briseno et al., 2008; Guimard et al., 2007; Xia et al., 2010). Conducting polymers have electrical and optical properties similar to those of metals and semiconductors, while maintaining the flexibility and properties commonly associated with conventional polymer substances (Dai et al., 2002; Heeger, 2002; Shirakawa, 2002). For example, the electrical conductivity of these polymers can be adjusted from an insulator to traditional metals by varying the species and concentrations of doping ions. Undoped conducting polymers with conductivities of 10-10 to 10-5 S cm-1 can be changed into semiconducting or metallic materials with conductivities of 1 to 104 S cm-1 through a chemical or electrochemical doping process (MacDiarmid, 2002). Also, optical absorption bands and mechanical volume of conducting polymers can be changed by entrapped doping ions. Therefore, they have been used for various applications such as electronic devices (Hashizume, 2006), optoelectronic devices (Noy et al., 2002), actuators (Berdichevsky & Lo, 2006), transistors (Alam et al., 2005), and chemical sensors (Bangar et al., 2009; Garcia-Aljaro et al., 2010). In recent years, 1D conducting polymer nanostructures have been demonstrated to have improved performance with low dimensionality. Many different fabrication methods have
Incorporating TSN/BLS in AFDX for Mixed-Criticality Avionics Applications: Specification and Analysis

In this paper, we propose an extension of the AFDX standard, incorporating a TSN/BLS shaper, to homogenize the avionics communication architecture, and enable the interconnection of different avionics domains with mixed-criticality levels, e.g., legacy AFDX traffic, Flight Control and In-Flight Entertainment. First, we present the main specifications of such a proposed solution. Then, we detail the corresponding worst-case timing analysis, using the Network Calculus framework, to infer real-time guarantees. Finally, we conduct the performance analysis of such a proposal on a realistic AFDX configuration. Results show the efficiency of the Extended AFDX standard to noticeably enhance the medium priority level delay bounds, while respecting the higher priority level constraints, in comparison with the legacy AFDX standard.
Comparison of the FPGA Implementation of Two Multilevel Space Vector PWM Algorithms

Multilevel converters can meet the increasing demand of power ratings and power quality associated with reduced harmonic distortion and lower electromagnetic interference. When the number of levels increases, it is necessary to control more and more switches in parallel. Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), with their concurrent processing capability, are suitable for the implementation of multilevel modulation algorithms. Among them, space vector pulsewidth modulation algorithms offer great flexibility to optimize switching waveforms and are well suited for digital implementation. In this paper, two algorithms, 2-D and 3-D, are analyzed and implemented in an FPGA. In order to carry out the implementation, both algorithms have been described in very high speed integrated circuit hardware description language, partly hand coded, and partly automatically generated using the system generator tool. Both implementations are compared in terms of implementation complexity and logic resources required. Finally, test results with a neutral-point-clamped inverter are presented.
Genetic relationship between predisposition for binge alcohol consumption and blunted sensitivity to adverse effects of alcohol in mice.

BACKGROUND Initial sensitivity to ethanol (EtOH) and the capacity to develop acute functional tolerance (AFT) to its adverse effects may influence the amount of alcohol consumed and may also predict future alcohol use patterns. The current study assessed sensitivity and AFT to the ataxic and hypnotic effects of EtOH in the first replicate of mice (HDID-1) selectively bred for high blood EtOH concentrations (BECs) following limited access to EtOH in the Drinking in the Dark (DID) paradigm. METHODS Naïve male and female HDID-1 and HS/Npt mice from the progenitor stock were evaluated in 3 separate experiments. In Experiments 1 and 2, EtOH-induced ataxia was assessed using the static dowel task. In Experiment 3, EtOH-induced hypnosis was assessed by using modified restraint tubes to measure the loss of righting reflex (LORR). RESULTS HDID-1 mice exhibited reduced initial sensitivity to both EtOH-induced ataxia (p < 0.001) and hypnosis (p < 0.05) relative to HS/Npt mice. AFT was calculated by subtracting the BEC at loss of function from the BEC at recovery (Experiments 1 and 3) or by subtracting BEC at an initial recovery from the BEC at a second recovery following an additional alcohol dose (Experiment 2). The dowel test yielded no line differences in AFT, but HS/Npt mice developed slightly greater AFT to EtOH-induced LORR than HDID-1 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that HDID-1 mice exhibit aspects of blunted ataxic and hypnotic sensitivity to EtOH which may influence their high EtOH intake via DID, but do not display widely different development of AFT. These findings differ from previous findings with the high alcohol-preferring (HAP) selected mouse lines, suggesting that genetic predisposition for binge, versus other forms of excessive alcohol consumption, is associated with unique responses to EtOH-induced motor incoordination.
Viral infection of developing GABAergic neurons in a model of hippocampal disinhibition

Mechanisms by which perinatal viral infections can disrupt hippocampal development and cause selective neuronal death may have implications for temporal lobe epilepsy and schizophrenia. Despite abnormalities of inhibitory interneurons in these diseases, the causal relationships between such neurotransmitter changes and viral infections remain unclear. This relationship was examined in a model in which rats, infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) as neonates, manifest a gradual loss of hippocampal dentate granule cells and neuronal hyperexcitability. The current data demonstrate that GABAergic interneurons are dual immunostained for LCMV antigens prior to the loss of dentate granule cells, supporting the hypothesis that LCMV may disrupt developing inhibitory circuits causing unbalanced excitatory neurotransmission and the eventual death of dentate granule cells due to excitotoxicity.
Increased pfmdr1 Copy Number and Sequence Polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum Isolates from Sudanese Malaria Patients Treated with Artemether-Lumefantrine

ABSTRACT Molecular markers for surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to current antimalarials are sorely needed. A 28-day efficacy study of artemether-lumefantrine in eastern Sudan identified 5 treatment failures among 100 evaluable patients; 9 further individuals were parasite positive by PCR during follow-up. Polymorphisms in pfatpase6 and pfmdr1 were evaluated by DNA sequencing. One individual carried parasites with a novel pfmdr1 polymorphism (F1044L). pfmdr1 gene amplification in parasites prior to treatment occurred in three individuals who had recurrent infection during follow-up.
A Spatial Interpretation of the Persistency of China's Provincial Inequality

China's rapid economic growth in recent decades has not led to balanced income distribution: inter- and intra-provincial income inequality have been increasing and their respective contribution to the total income inequality remains relatively stable. Based on a new set of prefectural database during a relatively longer period from 1994 to 2008 on Chinese economic development, this paper investigates the nexus between the spatial dependence and income inequality in China on a prefectural level. Using the decomposition results of the inequality and spatial dependence of inter- and intra-provincial groups, and also the choropleth maps of clusters in China, this paper reaches the conclusion that clusters of prefectures and provinces with high positive spatial association are persistent over years in China, and the resulting highly correlated income disparity on both inter- and intra-provincial levels might be lasting for a relatively longer period, implying that spatial dependence is a contributing factor to the regional income inequality in a spatial context.
The use of speech generating devices in communication interventions for individuals with developmental disabilities: A review of the literature

Objective: This review synthesizes communication interventions that involved the use of speech generating devices (SGD) for individuals with developmental disabilities. Methods: Systematic searches of electronic databases, journals and reference lists identified 35 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies were evaluated in terms of (a) participants, (b) SGD function, (c) SGD characteristics, (d) intervention procedures, (e) intervention results and (f) certainty of evidence. Results: Across these studies, intervention was provided to a total of 86 participants aged 1–42 years. Communication skills targeted included requesting, social or conversational skills, labelling items and receptive language. Intervention approaches were categorized as using Discrete Trial Training, Milieu teaching or a combined instructional approach. Positive outcomes were reported in 86% of the studies with 54% of studies categorized as providing conclusive evidence. Conclusion: This literature base is considered promising due to the large number of conclusive studies and the replication of intervention approaches.
Amplitude and phase correction of the radiation pattern in compact planar antenna array for direction finding applications

In the design of compact antenna arrays, high coupling causes identical antennas to present different radiation patterns depending on their position in the array. In direction finding algorithms similar radiators are assumed to have the same radiation pattern, that is why it is important to present a simple procedure to compensate this difference. The purpose of this communication is to present a very compact array design devoted to direction finding applications in emergency situations, together with a correction procedure for the amplitude and phase of the radiation pattern, based on a minimal set of measurements.
Using High Level Activities Net for Learning Analytics of Instructional Design

Instructional Design (ID), essential in distance learning, is the planning and sequencing of activities in a course. The High Level Activities Net (HLAN) is a net structure for designing and controlling the learning process. From the net formed it is possible to monitor students in run-time and to obtain information that helps both the improvement of the Instructional Design and students learning by means of Learning Analytics. This paper briefly introduces the HLAN and presents an investigation with 17 classes of a distance course, with a total of 673 students. Based on the information obtained by means of Learning Analytics, we observed the relationship between the students performance (with respect to his/her scores), the identification of modules of the course that must be analyzed and adapted regarding the degree of quality and difficulty demanded, and also a weak relationship between the number of accesses to a course and the student's performance.
PP2ARts1 antagonizes Rck2-mediated hyperosmotic stress signaling in yeast

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae impairment of protein phosphatase PP2ARts1 leads to temperature and hyperosmotic stress sensitivity, yet the underlying mechanism and the scope of action of the phosphatase in the stress response remain elusive. Using quantitative mass spectrometry-based approaches we have identified a set of putative substrate proteins that show both, hyperosmotic stress- and PP2ARts1-dependent changes in their phosphorylation pattern. A comparative analysis with published MS-shotgun data revealed that the phosphorylation status of many of these sites is regulated by the MAPKAP kinase Rck2, suggesting a node of regulation. Detailed gel mobility shift assays and protein-protein interaction analysis strongly suggest that Rck2 activity is directly regulated by PP2ARts1 via a SLiM B56-family interaction motif, uncovering a previously unknown mechanism of how PP2A influences the response to hyperosmotic stress in Yeast.