Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organization and Evolutionary Trajectory of the Mating Type (MAT) Locus in Dermatophyte and Dimorphic Fungal Pathogens

ABSTRACT Sexual reproduction in fungi is governed by a specialized genomic region, the mating type (MAT) locus, whose gene identity, organization, and complexity are diverse. We identified the MAT locus of five dermatophyte fungal pathogens (Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton equinum, Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichophyton tonsurans) and a dimorphic fungus, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, and performed phylogenetic analyses. The identified MAT locus idiomorphs of M. gypseum control cell type identity in mating assays, and recombinant progeny were produced. Virulence tests in Galleria mellonella larvae suggest the two mating types of M. gypseum may have equivalent virulence. Synteny analysis revealed common features of the MAT locus shared among these five dermatophytes: namely, a small size (∼3 kb) and a novel gene arrangement. The SLA2, COX13, and APN2 genes, which flank the MAT locus in other Ascomycota are instead linked on one side of the dermatophyte MAT locus. In addition, the transcriptional orientations of the APN2 and COX13 genes are reversed compared to the dimorphic fungi Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis, and Coccidioides posadasii. A putative transposable element, pogo, was found to have inserted in the MAT1-2 idiomorph of one P. brasiliensis strain but not others. In conclusion, the evolution of the MAT locus of the dermatophytes and dimorphic fungi from the last common ancestor has been punctuated by both gene acquisition and expansion, and asymmetric gene loss. These studies further support a foundation to develop molecular and genetic tools for dermatophyte and dimorphic human fungal pathogens.
Autonomous intruder detection system using wireless networked mobile robots

Wireless networked mobile robots pursuing a common objective are envisioned to be an efficient solution for many military, industrial, commercial, and environmental applications. This paper presents the design considerations of an autonomous intruder detection system based on wireless networked robots. Specifically, three critical aspects of these systems, such as coordination and task allocation, communication, and map-based intruder detection, have been investigated and a multi-sensor fusion mechanism has been presented. Performance results show that the fusion of redundant information from different sensors can increase the accuracy of a system and reduce overall uncertainty in intruder detection applications.
The visual representation of border tourism: demilitarized zone (DMZ) and Dokdo in South Korea.

The demilitarized zone (DMZ) and Dokdo mark South Korea borders with North Korea and Japan respectively. Each borderland is a socially constructed symbolic cultural landscape shaped in part by tourism. In this study, a sample of 2202 online images was inspected using content-semiotic analysis to understand how visual representation of border tourism works. It was found that visitors via social media and government censorship play major roles in constructing representations of (i) alienated borders with iconic war heritage attractions at the DMZ and (ii) an alienated and isolated Dokdo. Both borders highlight patriotic/nationalistic ‘flagging’ and the gaze across. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Qualitative Case Study of Native English-Speaking Teachers in Korea

Abstract The purpose of this study is two-fold. The first purpose is to explore how native English-speaking teachers in Korea describe constraints of their teaching experience in a different culture. The second purpose is to attempt to analyze these teachers’ perspectives on what kind of support proves to be helpful during the initial teaching experience. By analyzing collected data from in-depth interviews and focus groups during threemonth period, this study tried to capture certain cultural patterns and operational principles underlying the native English-speaking teachers’ meaning making of their teaching in a different cultural context. The overall findings from this study shed light on the direction of future research in several ways. First, research participants in this study point out the importance of the teachers seeing themselves developmentally. It was also posited that the process of becoming a teacher in a different culture is somewhat idiosyncratic, however, strongly affected by contextual factors, especially by the role of the native cooperating teacher and the role of the mentor. The results of this study were discussed in a way to generate practical suggestions for improving the support system for the native English-speaking teachers.
Lymphocytes and Antitumor Activity Leads to Enhanced Survival of Transduced T Receptor with Modified Signaling Domains A Herceptin-Based Chimeric Antigen

To generate chimeric Ag receptors (CARs) for the adoptive immunotherapy of cancer patients with ErbB2-expressing tumors, a single-chain Ab derived from the humanized mAb 4D5 Herceptin (trastuzumab) was initially linked to T cell signaling domains derived from CD28 and the CD3 (cid:1) to generate a CAR against ErbB2. Human PBLs expressing the 4D5 CAR demonstrated Ag-speciﬁc activities against ErbB2 (cid:2) tumors. However, a gradual loss of transgene expression was noted for PBLs transduced with this 4D5 CAR. When the CD3 (cid:1) signaling domain of the CAR was truncated or mutated, loss of CAR expression was not observed, suggesting that the CD3 (cid:1) signaling caused the transgene decrease, which was supported by the ﬁnding that T cells expressing 4D5 CARs with CD3 (cid:1) ITAM mutations were less prone to apoptosis. By adding 4-1BB cytoplasmic domains to the CD28-CD3 (cid:1) signaling moieties, we found increased transgene persistence in 4D5 CAR-trans-duced PBLs. Furthermore, constructs with 4-1BB sequences demonstrated increased cytokine secretion and lytic activity in 4D5 CAR-transduced T cells. More importantly, PBLs expressing this new version of the 4D5 CAR could not only efﬁciently lyse the autologous fresh tumor digests, but they could strongly suppress tumor growth in a xenogenic mouse model. The Journal of Immunology, 2009, 183: 5563–5574. CD28 and CD3 (cid:1) . We found a consistent transgene decrease over time that was associated with activation-induced cell death (AICD) of transduced T cells expressing low levels of ErbB2. Here we describe that optimization of this CAR by the addition of costimulatory signaling domains from both CD28 and 4-1BB lead to maintained transgene expression by increasing the expression of an antiapop-tosis gene Bcl-x L , as well as increased cytokine secretion, lytic activity, and in vivo antitumor activity of the transduced T cells.
Negotiating the gay male stereotype in ballet and modern dance

Dance, ballet and modern in particular, is culturally defined as a feminine activity in the United States. The purpose of the present study was to examine the experiences of professional male modern and ballet dancers in the United States. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 current professional ballet and modern dancers. We examined the ways in which the dancers initially became involved in dance, any support or opposition they may have confronted, and the ways in which they negotiated the stereotypical assumptions surrounding men’s involvement in dance. Four emergent themes are discussed: (1) exposure to and entrance into dance; (2) the gay stereotype; (3) negotiating the gay stereotype; and (4) homophobia within the dance community. The social significance of this study is rooted in the ways in which our culture constructs gender, the body, and movement, restricting both males and females from using and exploring their bodies in ways not deemed gender-appropriate. Attention is also given to the ways in which we can create and nurture meaningful experiences for a greater number of individuals.
Modulation of mitochondrial protein phosphorylation by soluble adenylyl cyclase ameliorates cytochrome oxidase defects

Phosphorylation of respiratory chain components has emerged as a mode of regulation of mitochondrial energy metabolism, but its mechanisms are still largely unexplored. A recently discovered intramitochondrial signalling pathway links CO2 generated by the Krebs cycle with the respiratory chain, through the action of a mitochondrial soluble adenylyl cyclase (mt‐sAC). Cytochrome oxidase (COX), whose deficiency causes a number of fatal metabolic disorders, is a key mitochondrial enzyme activated by mt‐sAC. We have now discovered that the mt‐sAC pathway modulates mitochondrial biogenesis in a reactive oxygen species dependent manner, in cultured cells and in animals with COX deficiency. We show that upregulation of mt‐sAC normalizes reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial biogenesis, thereby restoring mitochondrial function. This is the first example of manipulation of a mitochondrial signalling pathway to achieve a direct positive modulation of COX, with clear implications for the development of novel approaches to treat mitochondrial diseases.
Applying keystroke dynamics on one-time pin codes

In this paper the problem of applying keystroke dynamics on one-time PIN codes, consisting of 6 digits each, is addressed to investigate if it can be used for user authentication and identification purposes. In other research in static keystroke dynamics, the password/PIN code of a user is fixed, hence the template will contain exact information on how a genuine user types this information. The novelty in this paper lies in the fact that a user will be challenged every time with a new 6-digit number which he/she might never have typed before. We will show that in this situation we can still derive Keystroke Dynamics related features that allow a user to be authenticated. In a small scale experiment we obtained an EER of 26%.
Neuroimaging of the Serotonin Transporter: Possibilities and Pitfalls.

Nuclear medicine imaging techniques like positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) apply radiolabeled drugs that bind selectively to specific neurotransmitter receptors and transporters such as the serotonin transporter (SERT) in the living human brain. They can help overcome certain limitations of postmortem, platelet and genetic studies of the SERT. This review compares the outcome of those studies with recent neuroimaging findings. The first part of this review deals with the choice of radioligands used to quantify SERT distribution in the human brain. The second part summarizes studies performed to understand the normal physiology of the serotonergic system. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), used to treat a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders with emotional instability and behavioral control deficits, compete with SERT radioligands and have been investigated in pharmacological PET and SPECT studies in healthy volunteers and patients. Part three reviews SERT imaging studies in patients, which have meanwhile been performed in most disorders that benefit from SSRI treatment. It is hypothesized that serotonin deficits and neuropsychiatric symptoms are linked by the inhibition of involuntary emotional reactions to external and internal stimuli. This could explain, why the consistency of many SERT neuroimaging findings is low, and may help develop individual treatment strategies in therapy-nonresponsive cases and to engineer new drugs for the therapy of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Wavelet-Based SNR Analysis in Building Satellite Terminal Fault Identification System

With the rapid expansion of satellite communication, an increasing number of unattended ground terminals are spreading out to serve local customers. And there is a great demand to equip the terminals with fault identification functionality so that the remote satellite operators can be notified and make immediate response in the event of any local service impairment. In this paper, we correlate signal behaviors of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measured at the ground terminal with different type of possible faults, and propose a terminal fault identification (TFI) system that utilizes wavelet technique to filter the SNR measurements and extract from multiple time-scales the signal patterns which are then to be matched with pre-defined fault signatures. The effectiveness of the approach is verified through the analysis over real-world data collected.
Potts Model, Parametric Maxflow and K-Submodular Functions

The problem of minimizing the Potts energy function frequently occurs in computer vision applications. One way to tackle this NP-hard problem was proposed by Kovtun [19, 20]. It identifies a part of an optimal solution by running k maxflow computations, where k is the number of labels. The number of "labeled" pixels can be significant in some applications, e.g. 50-93% in our tests for stereo. We show how to reduce the runtime to O(log k) maxflow computations (or one parametric maxflow computation). Furthermore, the output of our algorithm allows to speed-up the subsequent alpha expansion for the unlabeled part, or can be used as it is for time-critical applications. To derive our technique, we generalize the algorithm of Felzenszwalb et al. [7] for Tree Metrics. We also show a connection to k-sub modular functions from combinatorial optimization, and discuss k-sub modular relaxations for general energy functions.
How Does Voting Equipment Affect the Racial Gap in Voided Ballots

An accumulating body of research suggests that African Americans cast invalid ballots at a higher rate than whites. Our analysis of a unique precinct-level dataset from South Carolina and Louisiana shows that the black-white gap in voided ballots depends crucially on the voting equipment people use. In areas with punch cards or optically scanned ballots, the black-white gap ranged from four to six percentage points. Lever and electronic machines, which prohibit overvoting and make undervoting more transparent and correctible, cut the discrepancy by a factor of ten. Judging from exit polls and opinion surveys, much of the remaining difference could be due to intentional undervoting, which African Americans profess to practice at a slightly higher rate than whites. In any case, the use of appropriate voting technologies can virtually eliminate the black-white disparity in invalid ballots.
Using Linear Regression and Propensity Score Matching to Estimate the Effect of Coaching on the SAT

Using observational data from the Education Longitudinal Survey of 2002, the effect of coaching on the SAT is estimated via linear regression and propensity score matching approaches. The key features of taking a propensity score matching approach to support causal inferences are highlighted relative to the more traditional linear regression approach. A central difference is that propensity score matching restricts the sample from which effects are estimated to coached and uncoached students that are considered comparable. For those students that have taken both the PSAT and SAT, effect estimates of roughly 11 to 15 points on the math section and 6 to 9 points on the verbal are found. Only the math effects are statistically significant. Evidence is found that coaching is more effective for certain kinds of students, particularly those who have taken challenging academic coursework and come from high socioeconomic backgrounds. In the present empirical context the summary causal inference being drawn does not depend much upon whether the effect is estimated using linear regression or propensity score matching. This research was supported by a grant from the American Educational Research Association which receives funds for its AERA Grants Program from the National Sciences Foundation and the National Center for Education Statistics of the Institude of Education Sciences (U.S. Department of Education) under NSF Grant #DRL-0634035. Opinions reflect those of the the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the granting agencies.
Real-time high-definition stereo matching on FPGA

Although many fast stereo matching designs have been proposed in the past decades, it is still very challenging to achieve real-time speed at high definition resolution while maintaining high matching accuracy. In this paper, we propose a real-time high definition stereo matching design on FPGA. By using the Mini-Census transform and the Cross-based cost aggregation, the proposed algorithm is robust to radiometric differences and produces accurate disparity maps. The algorithm modules have been optimized for efficient hardware implementations and instantiated in an SoC environment. Implemented on a single EP3SL150 FPGA, our design achieves 60 frames per second for 1024 × 768 stereo images. Evaluated with the Middlebury stereo benchmark, the proposed design also delivers leading stereo matching accuracy among prior related work.
The Little District That Could: The Process of Building District-School Trust

Purpose: This article describes how trust emerged as an issue in one school district and the processes by which central office administrators enhanced trust with its school site leaders. Method: This exploratory participant observer case study uses multiple sources of data including surveys, interviews, observations, and documents collected during a 4-year period from central office and school site leaders. Findings: The article illustrates how a university partner can play a critical role in surfacing and bringing forth action on an undiscussable issue—trust between the central office and its schools—and the actions taken by the central office to address specific facets of trust: openness, communication, risk, and integrity. The site administrators' response to these actions revealed that trust can be developed at both the relational and organizational leadership levels. Significance to the Field: The study is significant in illustrating that building trust between the central office and school sites can be an essential step in an underperforming district and can serve as a resource in achieving and sustaining school district reform. It also shows that attending to specific facets of trust can be useful when examining the development of trust between school sites and the district office.
Molecular profile of sensitization in subjects with short occupational exposure to latex.

OBJECTIVES We examined the prevalence of latex allergy in subjects with occupational exposure to latex allergens for less than 5 years, determining the disease spectrum in symptomatic workers. We identified the most frequent molecular allergens by Immuno- CAP (ICAP), correlating the findings with skin prick test (SPT) results. MATERIAL AND METHODS Seven hundred twenty-three healthcare students using latex gloves on a regular basis were invited to participate in a baseline questionnaire screening. An ICAP serum test was performed only when a possible latex allergy was indicated by the questionnaire. RESULTS The total number of participants responding to the baseline survey was 619. Glove-related symptoms were indicated by 4% (N = 25) of the students. The most common symptom was contact dermatitis (N = 18, 72%). In 12 subjects, ICAP revealed a real sensitization to latex, with a recombinant latex allergen profile showing a high frequency for rHev b 6.01 specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) (N = 9, 67%). In these individuals, skin symptoms were more prevalent than other types (88%). CONCLUSIONS The combined positivity for rHev b 6.01, rHev 8 and rHev b 5 determined by ICAP identified 92% of latex-allergic subjects with short-term exposure to latex.
Self-Regulation Training, State Anxiety, and Sport Performance: A Psychophysiological Case Study

A single-subject research design was used to test the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral intervention in reducing state anxiety and improving sport performance. The subject was a small-bore rifle shooter who suffered from high levels of competition-related anxiety. Initially, self-report, physiological, and behavioral measures of baseline state anxiety were obtained during competition. A 6-week intervention program was then implemented. This program included training in relaxation, thought stoppage, refocusing, coping statements, and biofeedback. An opportunity to practice using these procedures in competition was provided. Measures of state anxiety and performance were then obtained in a second competition. Results revealed that cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, gun vibration, and urinary catecholamines decreased whereas self-confidence and performance increased from baseline to treatment. The importance of examining multiple dimensions of state anxiety using a multimethod, idiographic approach is.
The diagnostic value of serum creatinine and cystatin c in evaluating glomerular filtration rate in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Background Serum biomarkers, such as serum creatinine (SCr) and serum cystatin C (SCysC), have been widely used to evaluate renal function in patients who have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Objective This article aims to assess the value of determining SCr and SCysC levels in patients that have long-term kidney disease. Approaches: MEDLINE, EmBase, the Cochrane Library and other databases were searched using both MeSH terms and text words to collect research that assessed the diagnostic value of using SCr and SCysC to evaluate Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) in patients with CKD. Data were converted into fourfold tables. Summary Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves and meta-analyses were accomplished via Meta-Disc version 1.4. Results In total, 21 relevant articles involving 3112 study subjects were included in our review. Results showed that the collective sensitivity for SCr and SCysC was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.69–0.84) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.82–0.91), respectively. The pooled specificity for SCr and SCysC was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.86–0.94) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.82–0.91), respectively. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that when GFR cut-off values are set to 60 (ml/min/1.73 m2), the pooled sensitivity is 0.94 (95% CI: 0.90–0.96) for SCysC and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.68–0.82) for SCr. Conclusions The diagnostical accuracy for impaired kidney function favors SCysC. Confidence intervals for the pooled sensitivity and specificity for SCr and SCysC overlap. However, SCysC is more sensitive for estimating GFR than SCr when GFR cut-off values are set to 60 (ml/min/1.73 m2).
Low Value Capacitance Measurement System with Adjustable Lead Capacitance Compensation

The present paper describes the development of a low cost, highly accurate low capacitance measurement system that can be used over a range of 0 – 400 pF with a resolution of 1 pF. The range of capacitance may be easily altered by a simple resistance or capacitance variation of the measurement circuit. This capacitance measurement system uses quad two-input NAND Schmitt trigger circuit CD4093B with hysteresis for the measurement and this system is integrated with PIC 18F2550 microcontroller for data acquisition purpose. The microcontroller interacts with software developed in the PC end through USB architecture and an attractive graphical user interface (GUI) based system is developed in the PC end to provide the user with real time, online display of capacitance under measurement. The system uses a differential mode of capacitance measurement, with reference to a trimmer capacitance, that effectively compensates lead capacitances, a notorious error encountered in usual low capacitance measurements. The hysteresis provided in the Schmitt-trigger circuits enable reliable operation of the system by greatly minimizing the possibility of false triggering because of stray interferences, usually regarded as another source of significant error. The real life testing of the proposed system showed that our measurements could produce highly accurate capacitance measurements, when compared to cutting edge, high end digital capacitance meters. Keywords—Capacitance measurement, NAND Schmitt trigger, microcontroller, GUI, lead compensation, hysteresis.