Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ecological Determinants of Distribution Decline and Risk of Extinction in Moths

Abstract: For successful conservation of species it is important to identify traits that predispose species to the risk of extinction. By identifying such traits conservation efforts can be directed toward species that are most at risk of becoming threatened. We used data derived from the literature to determine ecological traits that affect distribution, distribution change, and the risk of extinction in Finnish noctuid moths (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). The ecological traits we examined included body size, larval specificity, length of the flight period, and overwintering stage. In addition, in monophagous species we examined the effects of resource distribution. Larval specificity, length of the flight period, and the overwintering stage each had an independent effect on the risk of extinction when the effects of other traits were controlled by entering all traits into the same regression model. Not a single trait predicted the risk of extinction when analysis was conducted without controlling for the other traits. This discrepancy among the results suggests that a single trait may not be enough to allow prediction of the risk of extinction. Instead, it seems that for successful, predictive conservation science data on several ecological characteristics are needed.
Performance Analysis of Color Image Transmission over Rayleigh Fading Channel in an Outdoor Environment

In this paper we investigate the impact of different equalization techniques for digital communication systems that employ MPSK and MQAM modulation technique to transmit information such as color image over Rayleigh fading AWGN channel. Performance is analyzed in terms of bit error rate by MATLAB simulation. For the simulation of Rayleigh fading channel the different property values such as path delay, average path gain, maximum Doppler shifts Doppler spectrum parameters etc. are chosen carefully to show a realistic fading channel. Stepsize, forgetfactor etc. for different adaptive algorithms used by Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE), Linear Equalizer (LE) are also chosen properly. To transmit color image lossy compression has been applied which provides 82% less data than uncompressed JPEG image. All the analysis shows that for Rayleigh fading channel linear equalizer with LMS adaptive algorithm is the worst equalizer and Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimate (MLSE) equalizer provides best equalization for limiting signal dispersion and ISI. 
Validity of screening for psychiatric disorders in unaccompanied minor asylum seekers: Use of computer-based assessment

Self-report screening is an important element of transcultural research. Problems concerning illiteracy, cultural sensitivity, and possible misunderstandings have been handled differently in different settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of two well-known instruments: the Hopkins Symptoms Check List (HSCL-25), and the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ, Part IV), with a sample of 160 unaccompanied asylum-seeking adolescents from Afghanistan and Somalia. Assessments were performed 4 months after arrival in Norway, and the screening instruments were presented to the informants on computers with touch-screen function, using the program MultiCASI. Sound-files in the native languages of the informants appeared simultaneously with the written items and could be repeated by touch. We found that the screening procedures were well received and understood by the informants regardless of reading and writing abilities. Agreement between diagnoses (CIDI) and screening results were similar to other studies. Computer-based assessment in this setting was practical, cost effective, and can be recommended.
Variable n-grams and extensions for conversational speech language modeling

Recent progress in variable n-gram language modeling provides an efficient representation of n-gram models and makes training of higher order n grams possible. We apply the variable n-gram design algorithm to conversational speech, extending the algorithm to learn skips and context-dependent classes to handle conversational speech characteristics such as filler words, repetitions, and other disfluencies. Experiments show that using the extended variable n-gram results in a language model that captures 4-gram context with less than half the parameters of a standard trigram while also improving the test perplexity and recognition accuracy.
Acetylcholine and Epibatidine Binding to Muscle Acetylcholine Receptors Distinguish between Concerted and Uncoupled Models*

The muscle acetylcholine receptor (AChR) has served as a prototype for understanding allosteric mechanisms of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels. The phenomenon of cooperative agonist binding is described by the model of Monod et al.(Monod, J., Wyman, J., and Changeux, J. P. (1965) J. Mol. Biol. 12, 88–118; MWC model), which requires concerted switching of the two binding sites between low and high affinity states. The present study examines binding of acetylcholine (ACh) and epibatidine, agonists with opposite selectivity for the two binding sites of mouse muscle AChRs. We expressed either fetal or adult AChRs in 293 HEK cells and measured agonist binding by competition against the initial rate of125I-α-bungarotoxin binding. We fit predictions of the MWC model to epibatidine and ACh binding data simultaneously, taking as constants previously determined parameters for agonist binding and channel gating steps, and varying the agonist-independent parameters. We find that the MWC model describes the apparent dissociation constants for both agonists but predicts Hill coefficients that are far too steep. An Uncoupled model, which relaxes the requirement of concerted state transitions, accurately describes binding of both ACh and epibatidine and provides parameters for agonist-independent steps consistent with known aspects of AChR function.
Mal Mediates TLR-Induced Activation of CREB and Expression of IL-10

TLRs initiate immune responses by direct detection of molecular motifs that distinguish invading microbes from host cells. Five intracellular adaptor proteins, each containing a Toll/IL-1R (TIR) domain, are used by TLRs and play key roles in dictating gene expression patterns that are tailored to the invader. Such gene expression is mediated by transcription factors, and although TIR adaptor-induced activation of NF-κB and the IFN regulatory factors have been intensively studied, there is a dearth of information on the role of TIR adaptors in regulating CREB. In this paper, we describe a role for the TIR adaptor Mal in enhancing activation of CREB. Mal-deficient murine bone marrow-derived macrophages show a loss in responsiveness to TLR2 and TLR4 ligands with respect to activation of CREB. Mal-deficient cells also fail to express the CREB-responsive genes IL-10 and cyclooxygenase 2 in response to Pam2Cys-Ser-(Lys)4 and LPS. We reveal that Mal-mediated activation of CREB is dependent on Pellino3 and TNFR-associated factor 6, because CREB activation is greatly diminished in Pellino3 knockdown cells and TNFR-associated factor 6-deficient cells. We also demonstrate the importance of p38 MAPK in this pathway with the p38 inhibitor SB203580 abolishing activation of CREB in murine macrophages. MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), a substrate for p38 MAPK, is the likely downstream mediator of p38 MAPK in this pathway, because Mal is shown to activate MK2 and inhibition of MK2 decreases TLR4-induced activation of CREB. Overall, these studies demonstrate a new role for Mal as a key upstream regulator of CREB and as a contributor to the expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory genes.
Phase II Feasibility Study of Adjuvant S-1 plus Docetaxel for Stage III Gastric Cancer Patients after Curative D2 Gastrectomy

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of adjuvant S-1 plus docetaxel in patients with stage III gastric cancer. Methods: We enrolled 53 patients with pathological stage III gastric cancer who underwent D2 gastrectomy. They received oral S-1 (80 mg/m2/day) administration for 2 consecutive weeks and intravenous docetaxel (40 mg/m2) on day 1, repeated every 3 weeks (1 cycle). The treatment was started within 45 days after surgery and repeated for 4 cycles, followed by S-1 monotherapy (4 weeks on, 2 weeks off) until 1 year after surgery. The feasibility of the 4 cycles of chemotherapy, followed by S-1 administration, was evaluated. Results: A total of 42 patients (79.2%, 95% CI 65.9–82.9) tolerated the planned 4 cycles of treatment with S-1 and docetaxel, and 34 patients (64.2%, 95% CI 49.8–76.9) completed subsequent S-1 monotherapy for 1 year. Grade 4 neutropenia was observed in 28% and grade 3 febrile neutropenia in 9% of the patients, while grade 3 nonhematological toxicities were relatively low. Conclusions: Adjuvant S-1 plus docetaxel therapy is feasible and has only moderate toxicity in stage III gastric cancer patients. We believe that this regimen will be a candidate for future phase III trials seeking the optimal adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III gastric cancer patients.
Observability Analysis of Underwater Wireless Optical Communication Alignment between AUVs

With the help of underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) technology, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) can share survey data at high speed during underwater exploration. Establishing a line-of-sight (LOS) link between AUVs and maintaining alignment is necessary for data transmission. We use acoustic navigation to guide two AUVs to maintain a specific relative position and direction for beam alignment. The relative motion and acoustic observation between two AUVs are modeled in this research. The local weak observability matrix is presented to analyze the observability in the alignment process. To improve observability, the heuristic method and reinforcement learning method are utilized for motion planning. The reinforcement method outperforms the heuristic method in simulation experiments, which improves observability and reduces the use of acoustic resources.
Effects of Minority-Carrier Response Behavior on Ge MOS Capacitor Characteristics: Experimental Measurements and Theoretical Simulations

In this paper, we present MEDICI simulations of the admittance-voltage properties of Ge and Si MOS devices, including analyses of substrate conductance <i>G</i><sub>sub</sub> and high-low transition frequency <i>f</i><sub>tran</sub>, to explore the differences in the minority-carrier response. The Arrhenius-dependent <i>G</i><sub>sub</sub> characteristics revealed that a larger energy loss-by at least four orders of magnitude-occurs in Ge than in Si, reflecting the fast minority-carrier response rate, i.e., a higher value of <i>f</i><sub>tran</sub>. We confirmed that the higher intrinsic carrier concentration in Ge, through the generation/recombination of midgap trap levels as well as the diffusion mechanism, resulted in the onset of low-frequency <i>C</i>- <i>V</i> curves in the kilohertz regime, accompanying the gate-independent inversion conductance. The experimental data obtained from Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/Ge MOS capacitors were consistent with the values of <i>G</i><sub>sub</sub> and <i>f</i><sub>tran</sub> obtained from MEDICI predictions and theoretical calculations. In addition, upon increasing the inversion biases, we observed shifts in the <i>G</i><sub>sub</sub>/<i>f</i> conductance peaks to low frequencies that mainly arose from the transition of minority carriers with bulk traps in the depletion layer. Meanwhile, we estimated that the bulky defects of ca. ( 2-4) &times;10<sup>15</sup> cm<sup>-3</sup> exist in present-day low-doped Ge wafers.
Three High Mobility Group-like Sequences within a 48-Base Pair Enhancer of the Col2a1 Gene Are Required for Cartilage-specific Expression in Vivo *

To understand the molecular mechanisms by which mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes, we have used the gene for an early and abundant marker of chondrocytes, the mouse pro-α1(II) collagen gene (Col2a1), to delineate a minimal sequence needed for chondrocyte-specific expression and to identify the DNA-binding proteins that mediate its activity. We show here that a 48-base pair (bp) Col2a1 intron 1 sequence specifically targets the activity of a heterologous promoter to chondrocytes in transgenic mice. Mutagenesis studies of this 48-bp element identified three separate sites (sites 1–3) that were essential for its chondrocyte-specific enhancer activity in both transgenic mice and transient transfections. Mutations in sites 1 and 2 also severely inhibited the chondrocyte-specific enhancer activity of a 468-bpCol2a1 intron 1 sequence in vivo. SOX9, an SRY-related high mobility group (HMG) domain transcription factor, was previously shown to bind site 3, to bend the 48-bp DNA at this site, and to strongly activate this 48-bp enhancer as well as largerCol2a1 enhancer elements. All three sites correspond to imperfect binding sites for HMG domain proteins and appear to be involved in the formation of a large chondrocyte-specific complex between the 48-bp element, Sox9, and other protein(s). Indeed, mutations in each of the three HMG-like sites of the 48-bp element, which abolished chondrocyte-specific expression of reporter genes in transgenic mice and in transiently transfected cells, inhibited formation of this complex. Overall our results suggest a model whereby both Sox9 and these other proteins bind to several HMG-like sites in the Col2a1 gene to cooperatively control its expression in cartilage.
Amelioration of myoglobinuric renal damage in rats by chronic exposure to flavonol-rich red wine.

BACKGROUND Myoglobinuric acute renal failure causes increased oxidative stress. Since ethanol upregulates renal antioxidant enzymes and wine polyphenols behave as antioxidants, we tested the hypothesis that red wine components would ameliorate the renal damage caused by rhabdomyolysis. METHODS Adult rats received water (control), alcohol-free red wine, ethanol 12.5% (v/v) or red wine for 10 weeks. Rhabdomyolysis was induced by glycerol injection (50%, 10 ml/kg, i.m.), and urine and blood samples were collected 6 h later to measure renal function parameters, creatine kinase (CK) activity, free F(2)-isoprostanes and total antioxidant capacity. Kidneys were then harvested for morphological studies and determinations of lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, (Na + K)-ATPase and antioxidant enzyme activities. RESULTS In the control group, myoglobinuria was associated with a 68% decrease in creatinine clearance and increases in plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen of 3.2 and 1.8 times above baseline, respectively. Controls also showed increases in plasma free F(2)-isoprostanes levels and CK activity, together with enhanced renal expression of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, as well as increased production of malondialdehyde and carbonyls. Rhabdomolysis reduced renal (Na + K)-ATPase activity and this reduction was associated with a 5-fold increase in fractional sodium excretion as well as morphological damage to the kidney. These changes were significantly attenuated by pretreatment with chronic red wine exposure prior to glycerol injection. A less marked degree of functional and biochemical protection was also observed in response to the administration of alcohol-free red wine and ethanol. CONCLUSIONS The present data suggest that red wine protects against functional, biochemical and morphological damage caused by rhabdomyolysis in the rat, and this protection may be due to the synergistic effects of ethanol and non-alcoholic red wine components.
Chemical Composition, In Vitro Digestibility And Gas Production Characteristics Of Diets Containing Sweet Orange (Citrus Sinensis) Peel Meal

The nutritive value of four diets containing different levels of sweet orange peel meal (SOPM), D1(0%SOPM), D2(12.5% SOPM), D3(25% SOPM) and D4(50% SOPM) were evaluated in terms of their chemical composition, in vitro gas production (IVGP), metabolizable energy (ME), organic matter digestibility (OMD), short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and in vitro gas production characteristics. Results showed that the in vitro gas production characteristics did not show any significant difference (p>0.05) among treatments. The values for potential gas production 'b' and the potentially degradable fractions 'a+b' for all the dietary treatments were similar (p>0.05), but absolute values of D4(50% SOPM) for 'b' and 'a+b' (30.88 and 38.59) respectively, were higher than those of D1, D2 and D3. The rate of fermention 'c' was also similar across the treatments. In vitro gas production volumes were significantly affected (p<0.05) among the treatments. Metaboliazable energy for D4(6.56MJ/kgDM) was significantly higher than D1(5.30 MJ/kgDM), D2(5.32 MJ/kgDM) and D3(5.39 MJ/kgDM). The OMD and SCFA followed the same trend.
Kinodynamic motion planning for quadrotor-like aerial robots

Motion planning is the field of computer science that aims at developing algorithmic techniques allowing the automatic computation of trajecto- ries for a mechanical system. The nature of such a system vary according to the fields of application. In computer animation it could be a humanoid avatar. In molecular biology it could be a protein. The field of application of this work being aerial robotics, the system is here a four-rotor UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) called quadrotor. The motion planning problem consists in computing a series of motions that brings the system from a given initial configuration to a desired final configuration without generating collisions with its environment, most of the time known in advance. Usual methods explore the system’s configuration space regardless of its dynamics. By construction the thrust force that allows a quadrotor to fly is tangential to its attitude which implies that not every motion can be performed. Furthermore, the magnitude of this thrust force and hence the linear acceleration of the center of mass are limited by the physical capabilities of the robot. For all these reasons, not only position and orientation must be planned, higher derivatives must be planned also if the motion is to be executed. When this is the case we talk of kinodynamic motion planning. A distinction is made between the local planner and the global planner. The former is in charge of producing a valid trajectory between two states of the system without necessarily taking collisions into account. The later is the overall algorithmic process that is in charge of solving the motion planning problem by exploring the state space of the system. It relies on multiple calls to the local planner. We present a local planner that interpolates two states consisting of an arbitrary number of degrees of freedom (dof) and their first and second derivatives. Given a set of bounds on the dof derivatives up to the fourth order (snap), it quickly produces a near-optimal minimum time trajectory that respects those bounds. In most of modern global motion planning algorithms, the exploration is guided by a distance function (or metric). The best choice is the cost-to-go, i.e. the cost associated to the local method. In the context of kinodynamic motion planning, it is the duration of the minimal-time trajectory. The problem in this case is that computing the cost-to-go is as hard (and thus as costly) as computing the optimal trajectory itself. We present a metric that is a good approximation of the cost-to-go but which computation is far less time consuming. The dominant paradigm nowadays is sampling-based motion planning. This class of algorithms relies on random sampling of the state space in order to quickly explore it. A common strategy is uniform sampling. It however appears that, in our context, it is a rather poor choice. Indeed, a great majority of uniformly sampled states cannot be interpolated. We present an incremental sampling strategy that significantly decreases the probability of this happening.
Création et validation de signatures sémantiques : application à la mesure de similarité sémantique et à la substitution lexicale (Creating and validating semantic signatures : application for measuring semantic similarity and lexical substitution)

L’intégration de la notion de similarité sémantique entre les unités lexicales est essentielle dans différentes applications de Traitement Automatique des Langues (TAL). De ce fait, elle a reçu un intérêt considérable qui a eu comme conséquence le développement d’une vaste gamme d’approches pour en déterminer une mesure. Ainsi, plusieurs types de mesures de similarité existent, elles utilisent différentes représentations obtenues à partir d’informations soit dans des ressources lexicales, soit dans de gros corpus de données ou bien dans les deux. Dans cet article, nous nous intéressons à la création de signatures sémantiques décrivant des représentations vectorielles de mots à partir du réseau lexical JeuxDeMots (JDM). L’évaluation de ces signatures est réalisée sur deux tâches différentes : mesures de similarité sémantique et substitution lexicale. Les résultats obtenus sont très satisfaisants et surpassent, dans certains cas, les performances des systèmes de l’état de l’art.
Correcting saturated pixels in images

This paper proposes a novel method to correct saturated pixels in images. This method is based on the YCbCr color space and separately corrects the chrominance and the luminance of saturated pixels. Dynamic thresholds are adopted to identify saturated pixels, i.e. the thresholds for different images and different color channels are different. So our method can correct not only RAW images but also processed images. Once the saturated pixels are identified, there are three kinds of saturated pixels: 1-channel saturated pixels, 2-channel saturated pixels and 3-channel saturated pixels. They are denoted as Ω1, Ω2 and Ω3 respectively. Different strategies are implemented to these three kinds of regions. The color of saturated pixels in Ω1 is corrected according to their original color and the color of their neighborhood. And the color of saturated pixels in Ω2 and Ω3 is corrected only according to the color of their neighborhood. The luminance of saturated pixels is corrected using the model proposed in this paper. Experiment results show our method is effective in correcting saturated pixels of RAW images and process images.