Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antifungal Activities of Tacrolimus and Azole Agents against the Eleven Currently Accepted Malassezia Species

ABSTRACT The lipophilic yeast Malassezia is an exacerbating factor in atopic dermatitis (AD) and colonizes the skin surface of patients with AD. With the goal of reducing the number of Malassezia cells, we investigated the antifungal activities of a therapeutic agent for AD, tacrolimus, and the azole agents itraconazole and ketoconazole against Malassezia species in vitro. We examined 125 strains of the 11 currently accepted Malassezia species by using the agar dilution method. All strains of the 11 Malassezia species were very susceptible to both azole agents, with MICs ranging from 0.016 to 0.25 μg/ml. Tacrolimus had antifungal activities against half of the strains, with MICs ranging from 16 to 32 μg/ml. Two of the major cutaneous floras, Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta, have several genotypes in the intergenic spacer region of the rRNA gene; the azole agents had slightly higher MICs for specific genotype strains of both microorganisms. A combination of azole agents and tacrolimus had a synergistic effect against Malassezia isolates, based on a fractional inhibitory index of 0.245 to 0.378. Our results provide the basis for testing these agents in future clinical trials to reduce the number of Malassezia cells colonizing the skin surface in patients with AD.
Ethanol acutely modulates mGluR1-dependent long-term depression in cerebellum.

BACKGROUND Acute and chronic ethanol exposure produces profound impairments in motor functioning. Individuals with lower sensitivity to the acute motor impairing effects of ethanol have an increased risk of developing alcohol dependence and abuse, and infants with subtle delays in motor coordination development may have an increased risk for subsequently developing alcoholism. Thus, understanding the mechanism by which ethanol disrupts motor functioning is very important. METHODS Parasagittal slices of the cerebellar vermis (250 microM thick) were prepared from P17 to 20 Sprague-Dawley rats. Whole-cell recordings of Purkinje cells were obtained with an Axopatch 200B amplifier. Parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synaptic currents were sampled at 1 kHz and digitized at 10 kHz, and synaptic long-term depression (LTD) was observed in either external or internal application of ethanol for comparison. RESULTS We determined whether ethanol acutely affects parallel fiber LTD using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from Purkinje cells. Application of ethanol both externally (50 mM) and internally (17 and 10 mM) significantly suppressed mGluR-mediate slow currents. Short-term external ethanol exposure (50 but not 17 mM) during tetanus blocked mGluR-dependent parallel fiber LTD. Furthermore, internal 17 and 10 mM ethanol completely inhibited this LTD. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study demonstrate that ethanol acutely suppresses parallel fiber LTD and may influence the mGluR-mediated slow current intracellularly. This study, plus previous evidence by Carta and colleagues (2006) and Belmeguenai and colleagues (2008), suggests significant actions of ethanol on mGluR-mediated currents and its dependent plasticity in brain.
Revision of the ant genus Proceratium Roger (Hymenoptera, Proceratiinae) in Fiji

Abstract The Fiji archipelago harbours a surprisingly diverse and endemic ant fauna, despite its isolated and remote location in the South Pacific. The ant genus Proceratium is present on Fiji with three endemic species, of which Proceratium oceanicum De Andrade, 2003 and Proceratium relictum Mann, 1921 were previously known. In this study we describe the third species: Proceratium vinaka sp. n. All three species are members of the widespread and species-rich Proceratium silaceum clade. In order to integrate the new species into the current taxonomic system, we present an illustrated identification key to the worker caste of the three Fijian species. In addition, we provide a detailed description of Proceratium vinaka, as well as species accounts for the other two species, which include diagnoses, taxonomic discussions, specimen photographs, and a distribution map.
Ratios of partition functions for the log-gamma polymer

We introduce a random walk in random environment associated to an underlying directed polymer model in 1 + 1 dimensions. This walk is the positive temperature counterpart of the competition in- terface of percolation and arises as the limit of quenched polymer measures. We prove this limit for the exactly solvable log-gamma polymer, as a consequence of almost sure limits of ratios of parti- tion functions. These limits of ratios give the Busemann functions of the log-gamma polymer, and furnish centered cocycles that solve a variational formula for the limiting free energy. Limits of ratios of point-to-point and point-to-line partition functions manifest a duality between tilt and velocity that comes from quenched large deviations under polymer measures. In the log-gamma case, we identify a fam- ily of ergodic invariant distributions for the random walk in random environment.
GOME WFDOAS total ozone validation

This paper summarises the validation of GOME total ozone retrieved using the weight-ing function differential optical absorption spectroscopy (WFDOAS) algorithm Version 1.0. This algorithm has been described in detail in a companion paper by Coldewey-Egbers et al. (2004). The WFDOAS results have been compared with selected ground-5 based measurements from the WOUDC (World Ozone and UV Radiation Data Centre) that collects total ozone measurements from a global network of stations covering all seasons. From the global validation excellent agreement between WFDOAS and ground data was found and on average agree to within ±1%. Very little seasonal variations in the observed differences are observed. In the polar region and at high solar 10 zenith angles, however, a positive bias varying between 5 and 8% is found. Very few stations carry out simultaneous measurements by Brewer and Dobson spectrometers over an extended period (three years or more). 15 compared with our GOME results. Agreement with Brewers are generally better than with the simultaneous Dobson measurements and this may be explained by the neglect of stratospheric (ozone) temperature correction in the standard ozone retrieval from the ground.
Date with an Earthquake

This study explored reactions to an impending disaster whose occurrence is highly likely but whose timing is unknown. Fifty-one students who lived in suites rated "good" seismically, and 50 students who lived in dormitories rated "very poor" seismically were canvassed concerning their perceptions and coping strategies with respect to the impending California earthquake. Results indicated that respondents in the very poor structures were significantly more likely to deny the seriousness of the situation and to doubt the experts' predictions than were respondents in the good suites. Both groups showed ignorance of basic earthquake safety information and had taken no measures to prepare for an earthquake.
JHU ASpIRE system: Robust LVCSR with TDNNS, iVector adaptation and RNN-LMS

Multi-style training, using data which emulates a variety of possible test scenarios, is a popular approach towards robust acoustic modeling. However acoustic models capable of exploiting large amounts of training data in a comparatively short amount of training time are essential. In this paper we tackle the problem of reverberant speech recognition using 5500 hours of simulated reverberant data. We use time-delay neural network (TDNN) architecture, which is capable of tackling long-term interactions between speech and corrupting sources in reverberant environments. By sub-sampling the outputs at TDNN layers across time steps, training time is substantially reduced. Combining this with distributed-optimization we show that the TDNN can be trained in 3 days using up to 32 GPUs. Further, iVectors are used as an input to the neural network to perform instantaneous speaker and environment adaptation. Finally, recurrent neural network language models are applied to the lattices to further improve the performance. Our system is shown to provide state-of-the-art results in the IARPA ASpIRE challenge, with 26.5% WER on the dev Jest set.
The Effect of Two Church-based Interventions on Breast Cancer Screening Rates Among Medicaid-Insured Latinas

Introduction Latinas face disparities in cancer screening rates compared with non-Latina whites. The Tepeyac Project aims to reduce these disparities by using a church-based approach to increase breast cancer screening among Latinas in Colorado. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of two Tepeyac Project interventions on the mammogram rates of Latinas and non-Latina whites enrolled in the Medicaid fee-for-service program. Methods Two intervention groups were compared: 209 churches in Colorado that received educational printed materials in Spanish and English (the printed statewide intervention) and four churches in the Denver area that received personalized education from promotoras, or peer counselors (the promotora intervention), in addition to the printed statewide intervention. Biennial Medicaid mammogram claim rates in Colorado before the interventions (1998–1999) and after (2000–2001) were used to compare the effect of the interventions on mammogram use among Latinas and non-Latina whites aged 50 to 64 years who were enrolled in the Medicaid fee-for-service program. Adjusted rates were computed using generalized estimating equations. Results Small, nonsignificant increases in screening were observed among Latinas exposed to the promotora intervention (from 25% at baseline to 30% at follow-up [P = .30]) as compared with 45% at baseline and 43% at follow-up for the printed statewide intervention (P = .27). Screening among non-Latina whites increased by 6% in the promotora intervention area (from 32% at baseline to 38% at follow-up [P = .40]) and by 3% in the printed statewide intervention (from 41% at baseline to 44% at follow-up [P = .02]). No significant disparities in breast cancer screening were detected between Latinas and non-Latina whites. After adjustment for the confounders by generalized estimating equations, the promotora intervention had a marginally greater impact than the printed statewide intervention in increasing mammogram use among Latinas (generalized estimating equation, P = .07). Conclusion A personalized community-based education was only modestly effective in increasing breast cancer screening among Medicaid-insured Latinas. Education alone may not be the answer for this population. The barriers for these Medicaid enrollees must be investigated so that interventions can be tailored to address their needs.
Adaptation of the Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire for Use with Hispanic Elders

This article reports the translation and adaptation of the Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire (MFAQ) for use with Hispanic elders. The MFAQ was translated using the back-translation method. The inter-rated reliability of the abstained Spanish MFAQ and a comparison of these reliability ratings with those reported in the literature for the English MFAQ documented the appropriateness of the translation. A second measure of the appropriateness of the Spanish MFAQ came from its use with a client population of more than 90 Hispanic elders seeking mental health counseling. Results indicated that the Spanish MFAQ has a high degree of correlation with other measures of psychosocial functioning, is effective as a measure of treatment outcome, and is useful in presenting a comprehensive profile on clients based on several areas of functioning. Este articulo reporta sobre la traducción y adaptation del Cuestionario Multidimensional de Evaluatión Funcional (MFAQ) para ser usado con ancianos Hispanos. El MFAQ fué traducido utilizando el método de traducción reversible (back-translation). La confiabilidad entre los clasificadores del MFAQ versión en castellano, y la comparación de ésta con la confiabilidad reportada en la literatura para la versión en inglés del MFAQ, documentaron la propiedad de la traducción. Una segunda medida sobre la propiedad de la traducción del MFAQ al castellano, se derivó de su uso con una población de 90 ancianos Hispanos en busca de consejos sobre salud mental. Los resultados indicaron que el MFAQ en castellano tiene un alto grado de correlación con otras medidas del funcionamiento psicosocial, es efectivo como evaluación final del tratamiento, y es útil porque presenta un perfil comprensivo sobre los clientes, basado en diversas areas de su funcionamiento.
Stabilizing Model Predictive Control of Hybrid Systems

In this note, we investigate the stability of hybrid systems in closed-loop with model predictive controllers (MPC). A priori sufficient conditions for Lyapunov asymptotic stability and exponential stability are derived in the terminal cost and constraint set fashion, while allowing for discontinuous system dynamics and discontinuous MPC value functions. For constrained piecewise affine (PWA) systems as prediction models, we present novel techniques for computing a terminal cost and a terminal constraint set that satisfy the developed stabilization conditions. For quadratic MPC costs, these conditions translate into a linear matrix inequality while, for MPC costs based on 1, infin-norms, they are obtained as norm inequalities. New ways for calculating low complexity piecewise polyhedral positively invariant sets for PWA systems are also presented. An example illustrates the developed theory
Estimating ego-motion using a panoramic sensor: Comparison between a bio-inspired and a camera-calibrated method

We introduce and compare two algorithms related to ego-motion, applicable to a robot using a panoramic visual sensor in an unknown environment. The first method, computationally cheap, extends a family of bio-inspired navigation systems by providing an orientation estimation that previously had to be obtained from external references. The second method solves the general structurefrom-motion problem and is here adapted to the panoramic sensor case. Both methods produce good results in a test scene, though the calibrated method has a greater precision. A step-by-step comparison of the methods is included, with mobile robotics applications in mind.
Keeping the clock set under the midnight sun: diurnal periodicity and synchrony of avian Isospora parasites cycle in the High Arctic

SUMMARY For Isospora (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) parasites of passerine birds, diurnal periodicity of oocyst output is a well-described phenomenon. From the temporal zone to the tropics, oocyst production is correlated with the light-dark cycle, peaking in the afternoon hours. However, nothing is known about the existence of diurnal periodicity of these parasites in the birds of High Arctic environments, under permanent light during summer. We sampled free-ranging Snow Bunting (Aves: Passeriformes), on Svalbard in summer and tested oocysts output of Isospora plectrophenaxia. Here we show that under the permanent light conditions of Arctic summer in the wild, Isospora plectrophenaxia, a parasite of the Snow Bunting, still keeps the 24-h rhythm of oocyst output with the peak in the post-meridiem hours, despite the absence of diurnal periodicity in host's activity. Our findings prove the ability of avian Isospora to invoke alternative cues for synchronizing the circadian rhythms. Possible cues and adaptive significance of diurnal periodicity of parasite output in High Arctic are discussed. The maintenance of synchronization and timing of the parasite life-cycle stages is under positive selection pressure even in permanent daylight in the Arctic.
Differential Expression of Secreted Phosphoprotein 1 in the Motor Cortex among Primate Species and during Postnatal Development and Functional Recovery

We previously reported that secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) mRNA is expressed in neurons whose axons form the corticospinal tract (CST) of the rhesus macaque, but not in the corresponding neurons of the marmoset and rat. This suggests that SPP1 expression is involved in the functional or structural specialization of highly developed corticospinal systems in certain primate species. To further examine this hypothesis, we evaluated the expression of SPP1 mRNA in the motor cortex from three viewpoints: species differences, postnatal development, and functional/structural changes of the CST after a lesion of the lateral CST (l-CST) at the mid-cervical level. The density of SPP1-positive neurons in layer V of the primary motor cortex (M1) was much greater in species with highly developed corticospinal systems (i.e., rhesus macaque, capuchin monkey, and humans) than in those with less developed corticospinal systems (i.e., squirrel monkey, marmoset, and rat). SPP1-positive neurons in the macaque monkey M1 increased logarithmically in layer V during postnatal development, following a time course consistent with the increase in conduction velocity of the CST. After an l-CST lesion, SPP1-positive neurons increased in layer V of the ventral premotor cortex, in which compensatory changes in CST function/structure may occur, which positively correlated with the extent of finger dexterity recovery. These results further support the concept that the expression of SPP1 may reflect functional or structural specialization of highly developed corticospinal systems in certain primate species.
A Relaxation Algorithm for the Passive Sensor Data Association Problem

This paper is concerned with the problem of associating measurements from multiple angle-only sensors in the presence of clutter, missed detections and unknown number of targets. The measurement-target association problem is formulated as one of maximizing the joint likelihood function of the measurement partition. Mathematically, this formulation of the data association problem leads to a generalization of the multi-dimensional matching (assignment) problem, which is known to be NP-complete when the number of sensors S ¿ 3, i.e., the complexity of an optimal algorithm increases exponentially with the size of the problem. The new solution to the optimization problem developed in this paper is a Lagrangian relaxation technique that successively solves a series of generalized two-dimensional assignment problems, with the worst case complexity of max [O(S n3), O(M)], where n is the number of reports from each sensor and M is the number of possible measurement-target associations. The dual optimization problem is solved via an accelerated subgradient method. A useful feature of the relaxation approach is that the resulting dual optimal cost is a lower bound on the feasible cost and, hence, provides a measure of how close the feasible solution is to the (perhaps unknowable) optimal solution. For the passive sensor data association problem, the feasible solution costs are typically within 1% of their corresponding dual optimal costs. The algorithm is illustrated via several examples.
Novel Detection Algorithm of IDMA System under Channel Estimation Error

In this paper, we propose a novel detection algorithm for the elementary signal estimator of an IDMA system considering channel estimation error. To develop the algorithm, we derive new probability density function of decision variable reflecting channel estimation error and modify the conventional algorithm based on it. Through computer simulations, it is shown that the proposed algorithm achieves lower bit error rate than the conventional one. This performance enhancement is provided with negligible increase of its computational complexity.
Learning Feature Representations with a Cost-Relevant Sparse Autoencoder

There is an increasing interest in the machine learning community to automatically learn feature representations directly from the (unlabeled) data instead of using hand-designed features. The autoencoder is one method that can be used for this purpose. However, for data sets with a high degree of noise, a large amount of the representational capacity in the autoencoder is used to minimize the reconstruction error for these noisy inputs. This paper proposes a method that improves the feature learning process by focusing on the task relevant information in the data. This selective attention is achieved by weighting the reconstruction error and reducing the influence of noisy inputs during the learning process. The proposed model is trained on a number of publicly available image data sets and the test error rate is compared to a standard sparse autoencoder and other methods, such as the denoising autoencoder and contractive autoencoder.
Scaling up Link Prediction with Ensembles

A network with $n$ nodes contains O(n2) possible links. Even for networks of modest size, it is often difficult to evaluate all pairwise possibilities for links in a meaningful way. Furthermore, even though link prediction is closely related to missing value estimation problems, such as collaborative filtering, it is often difficult to use sophisticated models such as latent factor methods because of their computational complexity over very large networks. Due to this computational complexity, most known link prediction methods are designed for evaluating the link propensity over a specified subset of links, rather than for performing a global search over the entire networks. In practice, however, it is essential to perform an exhaustive search over the entire networks. In this paper, we propose an ensemble enabled approach to scaling up link prediction, which is able to decompose traditional link prediction problems into subproblems of smaller size. These subproblems are each solved with the use of latent factor models, which can be effectively implemented over networks of modest size. Furthermore, the ensemble enabled approach has several advantages in terms of performance. We show the advantage of using ensemble-based latent factor models with experiments on very large networks. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and scalability of our approach.